Bleacher Report Recommends New Free Agent for Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings’ cornerback room is well-stocked, but according to national eyes, the group could stand to get even deeper.
Bleacher Report Recommends New Free Agent for Vikings
That’s the word from Bleacher Report this week after the Vikings thumped the New York Giants in their house on Sunday, beating Daniel Jones and friends 28-6 to start the season. Outwardly, Minnesota needs no new help on defense.
But according to BR, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should sniff around cornerback C.J. Henderson’s free agency.
To set the table, these are Minnesota’s cornerbacks after Week 1:
- Stephon Gilmore
- Shaquill Griffin
- Byron Murphy
- Akayleb Evans
- Fabian Moreau
- Dwight McGlothern
- Nahshon Wright (Practice Squad)
- Jaylin Williams (Practice Squad)
The purple team doesn’t need more volume in the CB room but to each their own regarding the Henderson endorsement. BR’s scouting department explained the recommendation: “The Vikings will likely have a tough time competing for a playoff spot this year with journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold under center. So the front office should try to fill the roster with young players to see who can stick around for the long haul.”
Versus the Giants on Sunday, Minnesota’s cornerback held up quite well — probably because the pass rush was effective and ruthless.
“Especially with Byron Murphy Jr. and Stephon Gilmore set to hit free agency, kicking the tires on a former first-round pick who is only 25 years old wouldn’t be a bad idea,” BR added. “Maybe Henderson can reduce the defense’s need for a corner in the offseason.”
The former ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, here’s Henderson’s career destination resume so far:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2020–2021)
- Carolina Panthers (2021–2023)
- Houston Texans (2024)
And the Pro Football Focus lowdown:
2020: 57.9
2021: 50.7
2022: 52.9
2023: 45.4
The soon-to-be 26-year-old is not highly sought after at the moment — that’s why he lives on the free-agent market — after getting cut by the Texans at the end of summer.
If the Vikings obliged and signed Henderson, he’d almost certainly live on the practice squad with Wright and Williams, as playing time for Gilmore, Griffin, and Murphy, for example, shows no sign of relenting, particularly after a wonderful collective defensive performance at New York.
Cornerbacks were a significant question mark this summer for Minnesota following Khyree Jackson’s tragic death and Mekhi Blackmon’s torn ACL. However, the acquisition of Gilmore might’ve done the trick.
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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