2 NFL Experts Suggest Vikings Sign the Same Free Agent
Dustin Baker
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They’re not affiliated, but two sports media giants called for the Minnesota Vikings to sign the same free agent — on the same day.
NFL free agency kicks off Monday, March 13th, when players can legally chat with suitors. Two days later, players can put pen to paper with teams and make agreements official.
2 NFL Experts Suggest Vikings Sign the Same Free Agent
And when that window arrives, ESPN and Bleacher Report suggest the Vikings should sign New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones.
Jones and new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores were on the same team from 2016 to 2018 — winning a couple of Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in New England. Ties to former players and coaches in sports run deep, so folks apparently surmise Jones could be on his way to a reunion with Flores in the North Star State.
ESPN, by way of Football Outsiders, called for the Jones-Vikings pairing first, as Aaron Schatz explained, “Three of Minnesota’s top four cornerbacks in snap count are now free agents, so they are going to need some additions to the secondary. Last year’s second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. is probably ready to join the starting lineup across from Cameron Dantzler, but that leaves the slot.
“Jones is an excellent veteran addition who has excelled in the slot but also played well outside last season. He ranked 17th among qualifying cornerbacks in coverage success rate,” Schatz added, naming Jones a ‘must-sign’ free agent for Minnesota.
A couple of hours later, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine stepped up to the plate with the same idea, nominating Jones as a ‘dream signing‘ for Kevin O’Connell’s team. Ballentine elaborated, “Twenty-nine-year-old Jonathan Jones would give the Vikings a younger option than Peterson coming off a strong year. The seven-year vet spent most of his time in the slot before becoming a full-time starter on the outside last year.”
“His ability to play inside or out and give the Vikings a reliable veteran option would make him the ideal signing. The Vikes have to carve out some cap space, but they should benefit from a relatively deep cornerback class headlined by James Bradberry and Jamel Dean,” Ballentine concluded.
Andrew Booth, Cameron Dantzler, and Akayleb Evans — all youngsters — are tentatively on deck for Vikings CB duty. That trio could be upgraded, and Jones could reasonably fill the job. Here’s Jones’ passer-rating-against from the last five years:
- 2018 = 82.6
- 2019 = 104.0
- 2020 = 90.0
- 2021 = 87.3
- 2022 = 73.0
Plus, the handy-dandy Pro Football Focus grades:
- 2016 = 53.8
- 2017 = 69.8
- 2018 = 64.0
- 2019 = 73.6
- 2020 = 80.7
- 2021 = 50.7
- 2022 = 68.1
If Jones-to-Vikings materializes per Schatz and Ballentine, he should be gettable for about $10 million per season.
Soon-to-be free-agent corners Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley could also return to Minnesota.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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