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The Minnesota Vikings have kicked off their training camp earlier this week. Some storylines are the demotion of starting left guard Dalton Risner, who is primarily running with the second team, and Jalen Nailor’s emergence as a serious WR3 candidate. On the defensive side of the ball, there has been some bad news throughout the week.
Vikings Want to Add an “Impact Player”
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mekhi Blackmon, a second-year cornerback, has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL suffered on Tuesday. He has since been placed on IR. Shaquill Griffin, another cornerback, suffered a minor soft-tissue injury and is day-to-day, according to Kevin O’Connell. Still, it exposes Minnesota’s issues on the important position.
A new acquisition beyond depth player Jacobi Francis could be looming to combat the problems. Head coach O’Connell spoke to the media on Saturday.
As you kind of get some clarity from that standpoint [the type of roles the guys on the roster play], do we need to potentially add to that room and just knowing the type of camp I want to have, just from a calendar of work standpoint, I do think we’re probably going to need to add at that position to make sure that we’ve hot enough of a head count in that room to handle the rep load. But at the same time, there could be some impact players out there that might be interested in joining our team and that’s what Kwesi and his staff are working through right now.
Kevin O’Connell
Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Cole (84) is defended by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
He also mentioned that the guys in the room who have already been here for two years have the opportunity to step up. Those players obviously are Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth, the two drafted cornerbacks in 2022. Evans started last season but failed to earn any job security through the campaign. He even got benched twice late in the year. Booth, meanwhile, has shown flashes but hasn’t entered the starting lineup in 2023 despite the up-and-down play from Evans.
O’Connell surely teased the arrival of another cornerback because the team doesn’t have enough bodies to survive training camp, and if possible, that guy should be an “impact player.”
Rarely are impact players available late in July, and even the big names should be treated with caution this late. Popular names in Skol Nation are former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore and former All-Pro Xavien Howard.
Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore (21) brings down Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (23) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The obvious problem is age. Howard just turned 31, and Gilmore will celebrate his 34th birthday in September. They have to follow elite athletes on any given play, and losing a step is a death sentence for any cornerback, regardless of their former glory.
Gilmore played with the Dallas Cowboys last season, and because of Trevon Diggs’ knee injury, he played a huge role and logged over 1,000 snaps on defense. PFF handed him a grade of 74.4, which would’ve been the best among all Vikings at the same position. His addition would likely create the most buzz.
Howard would arrive with legal issues, which might already rule out any interest. If there was still an interest, the defender had pretty bad PFF grades in his last two seasons with the Dolphins. Grades in the 50s in both seasons rank him as a below-average player. That combination should be enough to prevent the Vikings from signing him, regardless of any history with defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) runs with the ball after making an interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The team currently employs ten cornerbacks, eight of them are healthy.
Byron Murphy Jr.
Shaquill Griffin (day-to-day)
Akayleb Evans
Andrew Booth Jr.
Duke Shelley
Dwight McGlothern
A.J. Green
Jaylin Williams
Jacobi Francis
Mekhi Blackmon (IR)
Besides starter Byron Murphy Jr., nothing is set in stone. The players will continue to compete for the starting lineup, roles, and roster spots.
Expect another player to join that group shortly.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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Publish date : 2024-07-27 18:22:50
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