ESPN’s ‘Must Sign’ Player for Vikings Isn’t So Crazy
The NFL’s free agency period opens Monday with “legal tampering,” with hundreds of players able to talk to teams, establishing intent to sign on March 15th.
The Minnesota Vikings have roster needs at cornerback, wide receiver, interior defensive line, off-ball linebacker, and perhaps center, making next week quite vital for 2023 roster building. After general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah clears enough cap space in the next four days, the team is expected to add defensive contributors.
ESPN’s ‘Must Sign’ Player for Vikings Isn’t So Crazy
And when Minnesota does splash into free agency, ESPN via Football Outsiders has one primary recommendation — cornerback Jonathan Jones from the New England Patriots.
Jones is a true-blue free agent and can sign anywhere next week. The Vikings hired Brian Flores for defensive coordinator responsibilities in February, and the man has ties to Jones from his days in New England. Football Outsiders‘ Aaron Schatz explained the Jones-to-Vikings theory, “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 concluded.
Minnesota has five corners under contract, three of them possibly startable in September: Andrew Booth, Cameron Dantzler, and Akayleb Evans. Kalon Barnes and Tay Gowan are associated with the roster for depth, but neither is considered a starting-caliber defender at the moment.
With three “maybes” at CB, the Vikings probably need more beef in the secondary, especially if free agents Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley don’t return. Peterson turned back the clock about five years and performed tremendously in 2022, while Shelley arrived out of nowhere and somehow graded as a Top 5 NFL cornerback when the season ended, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jones was an undrafted find by Bill Belichick in 2016 — go figure — and produced a respectable seven seasons in New England. Here’s his PFF tale of the tape:
- 2016 = 53.8
- 2017 = 69.8
- 2018 = 64.0
- 2019 = 73.6
- 2020 = 80.7
- 2021 = 50.7
- 2022 = 68.1
And Jones’ passer-rating-against from the last five years:
- 2018 = 82.6
- 2019 = 104.0
- 2020 = 90.0
- 2021 = 87.3
- 2022 = 73.0
Jones’ next team should be able to land his services for $10-$13 million per year, and once the Vikings free up cap space, the sum is feasible. In fact, adding Jones to the depth chart is a significantly more logical theory than Jalen Ramsey trade ideas permeating the Vikings rumor mill in recent weeks.
The aforementioned Flores was a part of the Patriots coaching staff as a linebackers coach during the first three seasons of Jones’ career.
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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