Yet Another Former Packer Talking with Vikings in Free Agency
EDGE rusher Za’Darius Smith signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, and yet another former Green Bay Packers player is talking with the purple team about a possible union.
It’s cornerback Chandon Sullivan, a player entering his fifth season from Georgia State.
Sullivan would hypothetically join a growing of Packer personalities venturing to the Vikings, including OLB coach Mike Smith, assistant head coach Mike Pettine, and of course, Za’Darius Smith.
The chat with Sullivan adds up because the Vikings are wildly deficient of cornerbacks as free agency nears the end of its second week. For now, Minnesota has Cameron Dantzler, Harrison Hand, Kris Boyd, and Parry Nickerson on the roster — not exactly a knock your socks off foursome. Dantzler can start, but the rest are reservists players.
Sullivan, though, is a starter, chiefly used as a slot cornerback for the Packers. Spending three seasons in Wisconsin, Sullivan played in 49 games and started 20 times.
He tallied three interceptions in 2021 with a 92.6 passer-rating-against. Sullivan is also durable, playing in every game since the start of the 2019 season.
Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume:
- 2018 = 33.3
- 2019 = 73.1
- 2020 = 62.2
- 2021 = 55.0
Sullivan was on the field for 77% of all Packers snaps in 2021 as the team finished 13-4 in the regular season, shockingly losing at home in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers, who oddly have Green Bay’s number in the postseason.
If Minnesota signs Sullivan, he should be perceived as filling the “Mackensie Alexander role” and not of that of a CB1. The Vikings still need to re-sign Patrick Peterson, explore free agents like Joe Haden or Steven Nelson, or use the 12th overall pick in April’s draft on a day-one starter.
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Sullivan will turn 26 in August, so if he works out of the Vikings, he should be hitting the physical prime of his career.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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