1 Vikings Free Agent Wants to Come Back
The Vikings have a handful of starters entering free agency. On the offensive side, the purple team could lose center Garrett Bradbury, Irv Smith Jr., and Alexander Mattison. The team already re-signed backup tackle Blake Brandel, which likely means that Oli Udoh will also leave the organization.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson will be a free agent after two years with the club, just like cornerback Patrick Peterson. Both were essential contributors. They couldn’t prevent the defense from continuously disappointing fans, but without them, the unit would’ve been a lot worse, even if that’s hard to imagine. Another defender will enter free agency barring an extension.
1 Vikings Free Agent Wants to Come Back
One defender stepped up late in the season when the team needed him most. Cornerback Duke Shelley unexpectedly played a huge role for the purple team, even if his start of the season was a nightmare for him.
The NFC North rivals Chicago Bears released Shelley after their preseason. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed him to the practice squad a few days later. Not even the Vikings expected that level of play from Shelley. If they did, they would’ve signed him to the active roster.
However, after Cameron Dantzler had to miss time with an ankle injury and Akayleb Evans exited the game against the Buffalo Bills with a concussion, Shelley came into the game for a few plays and played wonderfully.
The cornerback ended up playing 12 games for the 2022 Vikings, including six starts. He also started in the postseason matchup against the New York Giants. Shelley had so many highlight plays that the social media team of the Vikings was able to put together a whole video filled with his top plays.
The interesting part is that Shelley commented “bring me back” under that post. Many Vikings fans would love that, as Shelley became some kind of fan favorite. He is the perfect underdog story. Even his 5’9” frame fits that, but he never plays like a small player.
Shelley is a fierce competitor. Even if he is going up against big receivers like Chase Claypool or Christian Watson, he gives them a fight and comes out victorious much more often than not. Most fans will remember him for his first big play in the spotlight, a pass breakup in the endzone against Bills tight end Dawson Knox in overtime.
The Vikings would be wise to make his wish come true and re-sign their late-season star. Shelley could be back in the starting role or as a reliable high-end backup. There’s even a chance that Shelley keeps playing at the level of his 2022 play, which equals that of an excellent starter. Maybe 2022 was not a fluke after all.
Based on his size, the Bears used Shelley primarily in the slot, a logical assumption. However, he stated in the past that he is much more comfortable on the outside.
Other cornerback options on the roster are currently 2022 rookies Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth, disappointing veteran Cameron Dantzler, backup Tay Gowan, and late-season signing Kalon Barnes.
Dantzler has proven in back-to-back years that he isn’t a reliable starter. Two different coaching staffs didn’t trust him. He is not a lock to be on the roster when the season begins in September unless Flores falls in love with the 24-year-old.
The two rookies might make a jump and evolve into starting-caliber players, but that is a bet the Vikings are unwise to make. They certainly need a backup play. Shelley is an under-the-radar player in free agency. He doesn’t appear on many rankings. He could be a cheap alternative for the cap-strapped Vikings if the organization doesn’t want to invest big money in a top free agent.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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