Did The Duke … Take the Vikings’ Last Spot?
The Minnesota Vikings have needed help at the cornerback position for some time now. They didn’t address the role beyond a fourth-round draft pick this offseason, and tragedy took Khyree Jackson out of the picture far too soon. Fan favorite Duke Shelley is back, though, and he may have just taken the last spot.
Did The Duke … Take the Vikings’ Last Spot?
When the Minnesota Vikings kick off their preseason schedule, defensive coordinator Brian Flores will keep a close eye on his cornerbacks. Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin are penciled in as the starters, but what the depth looks like behind them remains to be seen. Both Mekhi Blackmon and Akayleb Evans have had their moments, but neither is substantiated to the point of being a sure thing. Then there’s the uncertainty of Andrew Booth Jr.
All offseason, a pairing with a veteran standout like Xavien Howard or Stephon Gilmore has made varying levels of sense. Rather than actually move on any of those players, the Vikings have stood pat. Losing the presence of Jackson, depth and quality came further into question. Instead of opting for a big splash, Minnesota grabbed a player they are familiar with.
Duke Shelley has played for Kevin O’Connell but has yet to experience the Brian Flores treatment. After emerging as a spot starter under Ed Donatell, the former Chicago Bears draft pick went to Los Angeles and became an afterthought. He’s back to battle it out for a shot to make the 53-man roster, and his presence seems to close the door on something more.
It stands to reason that if the Vikings were interested in any of the premium names on the market, they would have surpassed the point at which prices have fallen. If Howard or Gilmore had come through that door, it could have taken place already. Of course, if those players remain free agents, they may be on the table. Still, signing Shelley only further slams the door on any notion that something along those lines could be in the works.
There should be no expectation that Shelley will return and immediately put the Vikings in a good spot at the cornerback position. At worst, though, he is a veteran and familiar with the organization, which should help provide an additional body during the evaluation process.
If Shelley has a strong camp and preseason, it’s entirely conceivable that he could bounce Booth Jr. from the roster.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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