Don’t Panic! New Vikings Cornerbacks Are Coming.
Adam New
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Patience — something most sports fans lack.
It’s certainly not something confined to the fanbase of the Minnesota Vikings, though there isn’t much of it from large sections of the fanbase right now, as uproar sweeps across the fanbase on all the moves people wanted/expected aren’t immediately made.
One such area causing panic among some fans is the lack of cornerback signings. Let me tell you this. New Vikings cornerbacks are coming. I am 100% confident in that statement. Minnnesota will not head into the season with Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd, Harrison Hand, and Parry Nickerson as its only four cornerbacks.
I can’t give the same confidence for the offensive line changes people are hoping for. As I previously wrote, I don’t expect splashy moves to be made to bolster the offensive line. However, I do expect significant moves to come at the cornerback position.
I think the Vikings need three new cornerbacks altogether — a starting outside corner, a starting nickel corner, and a third guy to compete with Dantzler for the other starting outside corner position. It would have been great if they went out and made a big-money signing straight off the bat. That was never realistic.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be hard at work trying to solve the cornerback situation. That doesn’t mean they ignore the rest of the roster. So when they can make a signing like Harrison Phillips or Jordan Hicks, you get those deals done. That doesn’t mean they are ignoring the cornerback position. To use a cliche – trust the process. I never understand the panic and hyperbole in March.
The NFL offseason is a lengthy process. Personally, I will judge the roster by what it looks like when they name the final 53. Not what it looks like in March.
Back in February, I wrote about Pro Football Focus’s best free-agent cornerbacks that the Vikings should explore. Out of the six names I picked out, three are still available. Patrick Peterson, Bryce Callahan, and Joe Haden.
There are also other options, like Kyle Fuller, Stephon Gilmore, Tavon Young, Chris Harris, Kevin King, and more. who have yet to secure their destination for the 2022 season. While making a trade isn’t entirely beyond the realms of possibility, Patrick Peterson has indicated he would be happy to return to Minnesota for a second season. With interest from other teams, you would think the Vikings need to decide on that front sooner rather than later.
Then, there is the draft. A cornerback in the first round seems the most likely scenario right now. I wouldn’t rule out a second cornerback on day three, either. Ahmed “Sauce” Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr would be the dream scenario, but it looks unlikely either will be on the board at 12.
It’s more likely that the Vikings are looking at either Andrew Booth Jr or Trent McDuffie. Then possibly Kair Elam, Roger McCreary, or Kyler Gordon on Day 2.
Either way, there is still plenty of talent out there that the Vikings can bring in. There is absolutely no need to panic. New Vikings cornerbacks are coming.
Who and when? We will just have to be patient and wait for things to unfold. The offseason is young. There’s a long way to go before the 2022 Vikings roster starts to properly take shape.
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