Vikings Sign Battle-Tested Cornerback

Dustin Baker |

Jul 30, 2024

Five days ago, the Minnesota Vikings signed cornerback Jacobi Francis — and nobody knew who that was.

Vikings Sign Battle-Tested Cornerback

On Tuesday, however, the team inked Fabian Moreau, a cornerback with more name recognition because he’s played 106 career games.

NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted, “The Vikings are signing veteran CB Fabian Moreau, source says. Moreau played in 16 games for the Broncos last season with 11 starts, recording one interception and seven passes defensed. Former third-round pick of the Commanders heads into his eighth NFL season.”

That’s five new players for the Vikings in six days:

Duke Shelley (CB, July 24th)
Jacobi Francis (CB, July 25th)
Jabril Cox (LB, July 25th)
Bobby McCain (DB, July 29th)
Fabian Moreau (CB, July 30th)

The 6’0,” 200-pound journeyman corner will now vie for a 53-man roster spot in September, and based on his experience, might have the inside track to dethrone a roster bubble player like Andrew Booth or the aforementioned Shelley. This is Minnesota’s current CB group:

Byron Murphy
Shaquill Griffin (Injured)
Mekhi Blackmon (Injured)
Akayleb Evans
Fabian Moreau
Andrew Booth
Duke Shelley
Bobby McCain
NaJee Thompson
Jaylin Williams
A.J. Green III
Dwight McGlothern
Jacobi Francis

The club will likely keep five or six corners for the active roster at the end of next month.

Moreau, a 3rd-Round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2017, joins his sixth team in eight seasons:

Washington Commanders (2017–2020)
Atlanta Falcons (2021)
Houston Texans (2022)
New York Giants (2022)
Denver Broncos (2023)
Minnesota Vikings (2024)

Here’s Moreau’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:

2023 = 62.4
2022 = 53.8
2021 = 57.7
2020 = 65.7
2019 = 52.7
2018 = 60.4
2017 = 43.3

And his passer-rating-against in the last half-decade:

2023 = 98.5
2022 = 100.5
2021 = 115.1
2020 = 34.1
2019 = 93.3
2018 = 100.9

The Vikings needed help 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 hamstring injury that is considered week-to-week.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on July 25th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed.

Some Vikings enthusiasts thought the team could splurge for a big-name free-agent corner like Stephon Gilmore, but after four defensive backs not named Stephon Gilmore joined the club in the last week, that arrangement seems unlikely.

Minnesota’s defense ranked 11th per DVOA last year, and with quarterback uncertainty this season, Brian Flores’ unit may be asked to carry the club more than usual.

Moreau, 30, has experience on the outside and in the slot. He’ll probably receive action in the slot as a member of the Vikings.

Also Read:
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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.