The Most Surprising Vikings Development of the Summer

Cam Dantzler
Associated Press.

Christian Darrisaw has missed most of the offseason due to injury, a disappointing introduction for a 1st-Round rookie. Kellen Mond showed, so far, that he is not ready for regular-season football. And then Everson Griffen re-signed for another Minnesota Vikings adventure after a one-year layoff with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.

Those are some of the surprising storylines of the summer for the Vikings, albeit a couple of them disheartening. It was not necessarily surprising, but Danielle Hunter’s lack of a holdout was probably the biggest news of the summer. Had the Vikings embarked on a contractual standoff with their best pass rusher, the ride would’ve been bumpy.

Due to the quiet nature of its emergence, the most surprising development of the Vikings summer is Cameron Dantzler’s decline from roster prominence.

There was a time after the 2020 regular season ended but before St. Patrick’s Day, that Dantzler was perceived as the team’s premier cornerback.

Not anymore.

Dantzler – somehow – fell from grace in a few shorts months, facing a scenario now where must claw back up the depth chart to regain starting stature. Minnesota signed Patrick Peterson in March to kickstart the second act of his already tremendous career. Based on his resume, reputation, and credo, Peterson will start at cornerback for the Vikings. Then, general manager Rick Spielman found Bashaud Breeland in free agency, a move likely designed to combat Jeff Gladney’s departure – he was released by the team because of legal woes. On top of that, Mackensie Alexander was welcomed back from a one-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kris Boyd’s offseason has been quite good, making a case that maybe even he passed Dantzler on the roster.

What the hell is going on?

Dantzler was the NFL’s top-graded rookie cornerback in 2020, edging L’Jarius Sneed of the Kansas City Chiefs and Trevon Diggs of Dallas Cowboys.

Image Courtesy of PFF.com.

Now, however, it’s as if Dantzler is experiencing a vintage sophomore slump – before his sophomore year begins. Truly bizarre.

He was torched by K.J. Hamler of the Denver Broncos in the Vikings first preseason game, but feces happens. Before and after that, Peterson, Breeland, Alexander, and maybe Boyd seemed to pass Dantzler for both performance and hype. It’s all been so silent and unheralded.

The Dantzler tumble isn’t just a theory. He was the CB4 on Minnesota’s first unofficial depth chart a couple of weeks ago. Too, his coaches are commenting on his consistency:

 

Dantzler’s career is certainly not in jeopardy, but it’s spooky to watch his de-escalation down the depth chart – particularly when many Vikings fans viewed him as the CB1 not long ago.

Last year, Dantzler started 2020 slow with no preseason – those are important for young players – but stormed back after an injury suffered against the Green Bay Packers. From then on, Dantzler was marvelous, displaying glimpses of mini-shutdown-CB capability.

Now, he must fight his way back in a crowded corner house that hosts Peterson, Breeland, Alexander, and Boyd.

He can do it, but his backslide was totally unforeseen.

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