3 CBs Vikings Can Still Sign in Free Agency
Adam New
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Free agency is in full swing in the NFL. And while the Minnesota Vikings haven’t been one of the busier teams, moves have been made. Kirk Cousins has had a cap conversion, Garrett Bradbury has been re-signed, and the first three FA signings have arrived. Tight end Josh Oliver and edge rusher Marcus Davenport will don the purple uniform for the first time in 2023.
The Vikings have a lot of work to do before their roster starts to resemble one of a team ready to compete. Contrary to some opinions, that is still the remit for the coming season. No area of the team needs more attention than cornerback. Booth and Evans both showed potential in their rookie season, however, injuries scuppered progress for both.
3 CBs Vikings Can Still Sign in Free Agency
Some players that may have been on the Vikings radar have already been snapped up, e.g., Jamel Dean, Cameron Sutton, Jonathan Jones, and Emmanuel Moseley. However, all is not lost, with news on Tuesday night that the Vikings are finalizing a deal with Byron Murphy Jr. That’s an excellent start to addressing the cornerback situation in Minnesota.
There’s still work to do, and there are still good cornerbacks out there, and three imparticular fit the bill to go with the other signings the Vikings are making — young players with high upside.
Here are three cornerbacks the Vikings can still sign in free agency.
Duke Shelley
Duke Shelley came from nowhere to finish the season as the second starting CB in 2022. Plucked from obscurity after failing to make the grade in Chicago, “the Duke” grasped his opportunity in Minnesota with both hands. He finished the season with an 84.9 coverage grade via Pro Football Focus. That is the work of a high-end cornerback. So bringing him back surely makes sense?
Returning Shelley back is a smart move as long as it’s on a reasonably low contract — he’s earned more than the minimum contract he had last year. He was one of the few Vikings defenders who actually fit into Ed Donatell’s scheme perfectly. Does he fit into a Brian Flores defense, which will also demand more man coverage and physicality at the line of scrimmage?
Rock Ya-Sin
Ya-Sin would be an excellent fit as a man coverage outside cornerback. He has good size at 6 feet, 190 pounds, and has lots of potential. Unfortunately, Ya-Sin has a shaky injury history, with numerous niggling injuries causing him to miss a game or two. He was put on Injured/Reserve after Week 12 last season with a knee injury.
PFF suggests a contract of 3 years for $27 million, which would be a good deal should Ya-Sin stay healthy. That’s the central question mark that the Vikings and other suitors must consider.
Sean Murphy-Bunting
A cheaper option would be Sean Murphy-Bunting, who PFF projects a 2-year, $7.5 million contract. He also has inside/outside flexibility, having lined up on the outside and in the slot during his four years in Tampa Bay. Murphy-Bunting was a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft and stood out with three interceptions in four playoff games during the Buccaneers run to the Super Bowl in 2020.
He fell down the pecking order in Tampa, and a quad injury further hampered the early part of the 2022 season. However, injuries gave him a chance to get back on the field, and he impressed. With the Buccaneers re-signing Jamel Dean to play with Carlton Davis, Murphy-Bunting should be looking for an opportunity with a more significant role to prove himself as a starting-caliber corner. Minnesota can offer that opportunity.
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