Vikings Defender Flirts with Giants
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings cornerback room is scanty as of March 22nd, and that particular section of the depth chart could become even thinner soon.
Veteran CB Kris Boyd is an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign with any of the NFL’s 32 teams. And on Wednesday, the Texas alumnus met with a Vikings foe, the New York Giants.
Vikings Defender Flirts with Giants
Yes, those same Giants who ousted Minnesota from the postseason tournament two months ago.
KSTP‘s Darren Wolfson tweeted Wednesday, “Free agent cornerback/special teams ace Kris Boyd is said to be visiting the New York Giants today. He was a Vikings draft pick in 2019, spent last 4 seasons here.”
The Vikings discovered Boyd in the 7th Round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and the 26-year-old has played 58 games since. Boyd was utilized frequently in 2020 on defense — 343 defensive snaps — but aside from that campaign is mostly a special teams asset and a damn good one, at that. He survived the Vikings regime change from Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer to Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell a year ago, playing 82% of special teams snaps in O’Connell’s first season.
Boyd only participated in 37 defensive plays last year, so a free-agent chat with the Giants checks out. If he signs in New York, Boyd could experience more playing time within Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale’s defense.
New York has nine cornerbacks under contract:
- Adoree’ Jackson
- Cor’Dale Flott
- Darnay Holmes
- Aaron Robinson
- Amani Oruwariye
- Nick McCloud
- Rodarius Williams
- Leonard Johnson
- Zyon Gilbert
So, Boyd would have to fire up an impressive training camp and preseason to snag an active roster spot, although his special teams toolkit should be a bonus.
After Mike Zimmer and his coaching staff left in January of 2022, Boyd was an outspoken critic. Speaking to former Vikings CB Patrick Peterson on the All Things Covered podcast last June, Boyd sarcastically declared about Zimmer and his coaching staff, “They would walk around with their assholes, like, tight.”
“[They] would always be strict about everything. Like any time you messed up, it’s like the world ended,” Boyd revealed.
The Vikings secondary ranked second-to-worst leaguewide last year via passing yards allowed (266.9 per game), and the Giants specifically carved up Minnesota in the playoffs. Brian Flores was hired to run and fix the 2023 defense, while the aforementioned Peterson, plus cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler and Duke Shelley left the club. Slot CB Chandon Sullivan is a free agent, too.
Boyd could make it five outgoing Vikings corners if he reaches a deal. He’d reunite with ex-Vikings guard Wyatt Davis if he signs in New York.
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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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