Another Impact Player Is Probably on the Way for Vikings
In the last eight weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have signed Robert Tonyan (TE), Dalton Risner (OG), Jalen Redmond (DT), Duke Shelley (CB), and a couple of other players to enhance roster depth.
Another Impact Player Is Probably on the Way for Vikings
And that won’t be it.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters last week that his boss, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, was scouring the market for an impact player(s) after cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was lost for the season to a torn ACL, Shaquill Griffin (also a cornerback) fell injured with a minor malady, and rookie corner Khyree Jackson tragically passed away on July 6th.
“As you kind of get some clarity from that standpoint, do we need to potentially add to that room and just knowing the type of camp I want to have, just from a calendar of work standpoint, I do think we’re probably going to need to add at that position to make sure that we’ve got enough of a head count in that room to handle the rep load,” O’Connell said at Vikings training camp.
Minnesota has about $19 million in cap space if the next roster move arrives via free agency.
O’Connell added, “But at the same time, there could be some impact players out there that might be interested in joining our team, and that’s what Kwesi and his staff are working through right now.”
The most logical move is cornerback Stephon Gilmore. He played for the New England Patriots from 2017 to 2020, crossing paths with current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2017 and 2018. Gilmore started all 17 games for last year’s Dallas Cowboys, recording a phenomenal 74.4 Pro Football Focus grade. If he signed with the Vikings — or almost any other team — it would represent five teams in five seasons for the 31-year-old.
There’s also Xavien Howard, who was formally released this offseason with a post-June 1st designation, meaning Miami will absorb the savings benefit this summer. However, Howard can sign anywhere in the NFL. Gilmore, though, is probably a likelier signing, as Howard is beset by some bizarre legal woes this offseason.
Adofo-Mensah could explore a trade, too. A defensive back like Deommodore Lenoir from the San Francisco 49ers would make sense. The Vikings might have to dip into the 2026 draft basket for such a transaction.
Also available in free agency at cornerback are players like Adoree’ Jackson and Akhello Witherspoon.
Otherwise, if the Vikings stand pat at cornerback, they’ll need a rapid emergence — perhaps to a starter’s level — by a player like Andrew Booth or Duke Shelley.
Minnesota’s first regular season game is 41 days away.
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.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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