Rumors: Vikings Interested in CB’s Bryce Callahan, Patrick Robinson
Sean Borman
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The Vikings are apparently looking to bolster their cornerback depth. Outside of star defender Xavier Rhodes and young cover man Trae Waynes, there aren’t many options on the roster.
According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, the Vikings are interested in Chicago Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan.
https://twitter.com/GoesslingStrib/status/973525992051478528
Callahan is 26 years-old, 5-10 and 184 pounds. He earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 82.9 in 2017, ranking 31 out of 120 qualified players.
Callahan is a restricted free agent, so the Bears have the right to match any offer a team makes to the cornerback on the open market. They would not receive any draft pick compensation for losing him.
The Vikings are looking to add cornerback depth since Marcus Sherels, 40 year-old Terence Newman and Tramaine Brock are all free agents. The team does not plan to bring back Brock.
Adding a nickel corner would allow 24 year-old Mackensie Alexander to play on the outside if the Vikings coaching staff feels that’s his best fit. He excelled as an “outside” cornerback in college.
In more CB news:
Darren Wolfon of KSTP has reported the Vikings have also had discussion regarding former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson. Robinson is the defender who intercepted Case Keenum early in the NFC Championship Game and returned it for a touchdown.
The 30 year-old is a former first-round pick and outstanding nickel cornerback. His PFF grade of 89.8 last season was the sixth-highest among qualified corners. It’s been reported that the Eagles are working to retain Robinson, but no deal has been reached at this point.
According to Wolfson the team will first wait to see what happens with the quarterback situation, then they’ll discuss Newman and whether or not he remains an option moving forward. Newman spent the most time playing in the slot last season.
The #Vikings talked to more than the agents for multiple QBs last night. They had a conversation about Jan. 21 buzzkiller CB Patrick Robinson. But a) they need to see how QB/Cousins $$ shakes out first, b) still internal debate about if/how Newman fits in moving forward.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) March 13, 2018