Vikings Make Move for Defensive Back
It wasn’t Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard, Akhello Witherspoon, or Adoree’ Jackson as popularly suggested by Minnesota Vikings fans.
Vikings Make Move for Defensive Back
But Minnesota indeed signed a free-agent defensive back on Monday, a former understudy of defensive coordinator Brian Flores named Bobby McCain.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Source: Vikings are signing former Dolphins and Giants free-agent defensive back Bobby McCain, reuniting him with Minnesota DC Brian Flores.”
The Vikings have encountered extreme tribulation at cornerback in the last four weeks. In July, Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in a Maryland car accident, second-year corner Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL and will miss all of 2024, and veteran defender Shaquill Griffin is currently hobbled by a leg injury that is considered week-to-week.
So, for now, McCain is the depth piece to combat the injuries. The team could also play McCain at safety, though he was drafted as a cornerback. He’s been utilized as a safety at his last few NFL stops.
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), and McCain is evidently the Vikings’ version of the strategy. “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 on Friday.
McCain is no stranger to playing time, appearing in 131 games since 2015 while starting 87. He crossed paths with the aforementioned Flores in Miami in 2019 and 2020 — the apparent connection drawing McCain to Minnesota for 2024.
The 30-year-old has grabbed 11 interceptions out of the sky in nine seasons, tabulating 394 total tackles and 45 passes defended. He last played for the New York Giants in 2023, participating on 19 plays or 3% of all snaps. McCain primarily filled a special teams role last year.
This is McCain’s career resume by destination:
- Miami Dolphins (2015–2020)
- Washington Commanders (2021–2022)
- New York Giants (2023)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Here’s his Pro Football Focus skinny:
- 2015 = 60.5
- 2016 = 61.6
- 2017 = 76.4
- 2018 = 57.9
- 2019 = 63.6
- 2020 = 62.1
- 2021 = 70.9
- 2022 = 61.4
- 2023 = 49.0 (limited snaps)
And the passer-rating-against in the last half-decade:
- 2018 = 125.2
- 2019 = 94.0
- 2020 = 64.3
- 2021 = 65.5
- 2022 = 111.9
- 2023 = 108.3 (2 targets)
McCain was a 5th-Round draft selection in 2015 and should be classified as a depth signing who may or may not make the September roster. Some Vikings fans expressed disappointment that the club didn’t spring for Stephon Gilmore, a free agent with a more productive recent resume.
The Vikings first regular season game is 41 days away.
Note: This article was edited after publication to clarify Bobby McCain’s versatility as a hybrid corner-safety.
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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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