Vikings Defensive Back Scramble

Tragedy and injuries have forced the Minnesota Vikings to make defensive back adjustments on the fly. Training camp opened last Wednesday. In that time, Duke Shelley, Jacobi Francis, and Bobby McCain have been signed. Indications are that more additions may be in the team’s future.  

Rookie Khyree Jackson and second-year Mekhi Blackmon were expected to grab prominent cornerback roles this season. Tragically, Jackson is gone. Blackmon tore his ACL during 7 v7s in the first practice of training camp. At least, he can rehab from that. The Vikings lost two of their top four cornerbacks before training camp was a day old. 

It’s late July, the available cornerbacks aren’t a sparkling bunch. There are some big names like Stephon Gilmore and Patrick Peterson but both are on the down-side of their brilliant careers. Adoree’ Jackson, J.C. Jackson, and Xavien Howard are younger but come with questions of their own. I flip back and forth from Gilmore and the Jacksons as the most appealing of the bunch. Ahkello Witherspoon is another free agent that might be considered. 

Initially, I thought that signing an available cornerback as the only option in fortifying the position. Nope. The Vikings are apparently taking advantage of the versatility of some of their safeties. Camryn Bynum played cornerback at Cal. There might be instances in which the Vikings use those skills but I really don’t see a full-time, or even extended, move to cornerback. I watched all of Bynum’s games at Cal. He was a very good college cornerback. He played cornerback in college like a very good NFL safety. More likely, and more promising, the Vikings are giving second-year Jay Ward some run at cornerback. He showed ridiculous versatility at LSU. He played considerable snaps at safety, nickel, and outside corner. The addition yesterday of Bobby McCain is an indication that Ward playing some corner is more than just an experiment. Brian Flores said that McCain would play safety. The position on the roster least in need of an upgrade was probably safety. Further, McCain hasn’t played corner since about 2018. 

So, where does this defensive back scrambling leave the Vikings? Maybe, I’m finally recovering from the shock and disappointment of losing Blackmon for the season. While I’m not ruling out the need for a cornerback like Gilmore, or a Jackson, my confidence in the Vikings remaining cornerbacks is growing. No more injuries! Shaquill Griffin must stay on the field. A top trio of Byron Murphy Jr., Akayleb Evans, and Griffin can work. Hopefully, Andrew Booth Jr. plays to his talents. Duke Shelley provides reliable depth. Undrafted free agent Dwight McGlothern is intriguing. There was a time shortly after Khyree Jackson was added in the draft that I thought that the Vikings questionable cornerback group could be a team strength as soon as this season. I don’t see the group being a strength but it could be better than competent. That’s not a glowing evaluation but it’s an improvement over how I viewed the group on Friday. 

I trust Brian Flores, Daronte Jones, and Michael Hutchings to get the best out of the Vikings defensive backs.