Rumors Swirl about Position Changes for Vikings Players

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A couple of rumors about Minnesota Vikings players’ would-be position changes have taken center stage at training camp — mainly because tragedies and injuries have beset the team’s cornerbacks.

Rumors Swirl about Position Changes for Vikings Players

The Vikings could see aid at cornerback after rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in a Maryland car accident on July 6th, second-year corner Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL and will miss all of 2024, and veteran defender Shaquill Griffin is currently hampered by a leg injury that is considered week-to-week.

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Accordingly, some have suggested safeties Camryn Bynum and Jay Ward could try cornerback on for size. It began last week when Paul Allen, the voice of the Vikings, said on KFAN, “I saw Murphy and Shaq Griffin with DB’s coach, Durante Jones. And then Cam Bynum was waved over. And this was early in practice. And Cam Bynum, a former corner at the University of California, he was doing some work with the corners yesterday.”

Folks cited Bynum’s college cornerback resume — he played the position at California, 42 games worth —as evidence that Allen could be onto something.

Contract Extension
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Fast forward to the second week of Vikings training camp, and Ward received the cornerback-to-safety treatment, too. The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis tweeted Monday, “Vikings second-year DB Jay Ward was mixing in at corner today. Has played mostly safety since getting here, so definitely interesting given position depth.”

Meanwhile on Monday, Minnesota signed hybrid defensive back Bobby McCain, a man with ties to defensive coordinator Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphins days. McCain has played safety over the last few seasons but began his career as a cornerback.

Position Changes
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Earlier this offseason, on offense, the Vikings shifted wide receiver N’Keal Harry to tight end, where he’ll vie for a 53-man roster spot in the next four weeks. So, this coaching staff is no stranger to moving players around. In fact, Blake Brandel, once an offensive tackle, now plays guard, and Dalton Risner has experienced snaps at right guard during training camp, a change of pace from his left guard assignments over the last five seasons.

On the whole, if Minnesota flips Bynum or Ward to cornerback, Ward is the likelier contender. Bynum is an established safety who doesn’t really need a change of scenery to thrive. Plus, long-time safety Harrison Smith could retire next offseason, and it would be wise to have Bynum ready as his replacement.

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Ward, on the other hand, is still young and impressionable enough to mingle with slot cornerback responsibilities. VikingsTerritory‘s Janik Eckardt even envisioned Ward as a cornerback some 16 months ago.

“Ward is 6’1″ and 188 pounds with an outstanding 10-yard split which shows his acceleration. The top-end speed is one of his problems. All of that sounds like the description of a slot CB. He is also excellent in run support, which is an important feat for a slot guy because he is playing close to the middle of the field, and he is a good blitzer,” Eckardt wrote after the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ward in the “Mekhi Blackmon role” is a wiser bet than Bynum — if either man changes positions at all.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

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