The Indianapolis Colts Stephon Gilmore. © Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK.
With training camp now in Week 2, the Vikings’ most concerning position is cornerback. The sad death of fourth-rounder Khyree Jackson and two camp injuries have thrown a wrench in DC Brian Flores’ plans—second-year man Mekhi Blackmon is out for the year after tearing his ACL, and free agent signee Shaq Griffin is out short term with a leg injury.
Byron Murphy will start at one outside corner and move to the slot in three corner alignments. Akayleb Evans was inconsistent last season but lined up with the first team outside this week. He needs to be much better to hold the spot or play outside corner with Griffin when Murphy moves inside.
2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth Jr. is probably on his last chance to earn a roster spot. It seems like the Vikings are signing a veteran corner every day to add competition, and they hope to bring quality to the mix. Recently signed vets include Fabian Moreau, Bobby McCain, and Duke Shelley, and second-year man Jaylin Williams flashes some talent, so he could be a sleeper.
Starting safety Cam Bynum can play corner if needed, and so can second-year man Jay Ward. Bynum cut in front of Justin Jefferson for an interception off a Sam Darnold throw on the first play of a two-minute drill in training camp this week.
I think the Vikings should make a strong effort—which perhaps they’re quietly doing—to sign the best available corner—Stephon Gilmore. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year (2019 in New England) who has 31 career interceptions. He played well for Dallas last season as a $10 million player, producing two interceptions, 13 passes defended, and 68 tackles as he started every game.
The Cowboys are set with their starting outside corners as they have two Pro Bowlers in Trevon Diggs, who has returned from his ACL injury, and DaRon Bland, last year’s league interception leader (with 9). Dallas is dealing with contract issues on their three best players—QB Dak Prescott (entering the final year of his contract), WR CeeDee Lamb (holding out for a Justin Jefferson-like deal), and DE/OLB Micah Parsons, who wants a Nick Bosa-like top of the market extension.
The Vikings have $17.9 million of cap room. They should try to sign Gilmore for $10 million this year and possibly do a two-year deal with a couple of voidable years to lower the cap hit since they’ll need room when all players count after the final cut.
As I watch training camp practices, I see plenty of talent at edge rusher and safety, and the D-line should be okay. At this point, I just don’t trust the corners other than Murphy. Adding Gilmore would improve the situation significantly.
Xavien Howard is another veteran corner who has been a Pro Bowler and played under DC Brian Flores in Miami. He’s now a free agent after the Dolphins released him in March. He was a cap casualty who was making $18 million per year. He’s had injury issues (he missed four games last season), and some character questions about him have softened his free-agent market.
If the Vikings feel comfortable with his off-the-field concerns and his chances to stay healthy, he’s another possible addition if he can be signed at a reasonable price.
Stay tuned on this corner situation. The Vikings are clearly still looking for more help at a critical position.
Other Training Camp Observations:
1. While the corner situation is the biggest concern, the QB derby is the biggest storyline in camp and attracts the most attention. Darnold and first-rounder J.J. McCarthy have shown off their big-league arms as they learn Kevin O’Connell’s offense. McCarthy also flashes his running ability on bootlegs and scramble plays. Darnold is taking most of the reps with the starters, but McCarthy is getting a few reps along with Nick Mullens, while Jaren Hall works with the backups.
It will be very interesting to see the rotation O’Connell decides to utilize in preseason games beginning August 10 at home against the Raiders and in joint practices with the Browns in Cleveland on August 14-15. How much will he be willing to play Darnold and McCarthy with the injury risk involved in preseason games?
McCarthy will have to beat out Darnold to start the regular season opener at the Giants on September 8. But I still believe McCarthy will be the starter by mid-season, if not sooner.
2. Watching the 1-on-1s in camp between newly extended elite left tackle Christian Darrisaw and first-round edge/OLB Dallas Turner has been fun. Darrisaw has physically handled Turner in most of the reps I’ve seen, but I think it’s great that he tries to help Turner by telling him things he can do better. That’s a team player at work and these camp battles will make Turner better (which the Vikings need him to be right out of the gate, especially with their cornerback issues).
I saw those great training camp matchups of top offensive and defensive linemen throughout my NFL career, including Hall of Famers Gary Zimmerman at OT against Chris Doleman (DE) and Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel (OG) vs. John Randle (DT).
I am also impressed with the athleticism and quickness of the Vikings’ two free agent signees at edge/OLB, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel (as he works back from an injury).
3. The inside linebacker spots are well fortified with an excellent free agent signee in Golden Gopher-alum Blake Cashman, who looks great after having his best season in Houston last year, and Ivan Pace Jr., who earned a starting role as a rookie last season and is often in the backfield making plays in camp.
4. I watched T.J. Hockenson running on a side field as he worked his way back from his ACL injury in Week 16 last season. Many assumed that Hockenson would start the regular season on PUP, which would put him out for six games. After watching him run, I think he’ll be back a lot sooner than expected, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s in the starting lineup on opening day in the Meadowlands.
Robert Tonyan looks good at tight end in camp and provides quality depth (as a former starter in Green Bay) along with Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt. But Hockenson is a top-three tight end in the league and such an important part of the Vikings’ passing game, taking pressure off star wide receivers Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Speaking of Jefferson, he should not play in any preseason games to stay healthy for the regular season.
5. Jalen Nailor looks very good so far as the third wide receiver. I think he’s more explosive than K.J. Osborn, who left in free agency, but Nailor has often been injured in his first two seasons since being drafted in the 2022 sixth round. He must stay healthy, and then he can be a big help this season.
6. Kicker John Parker Romo was released, but sixth-round rookie Will Reichard shouldn’t think he’s got the job won at this juncture. If he doesn’t prove worthy, the team will bring in an available veteran kicker (and that could be Greg Joseph if he doesn’t beat out Anders Carlson in Green Bay).
Around the NFL Observations:
Plenty of major extensions have been signed recently around the league. Topping the list is Green Bay QB Jordan Love’s four-year, $220 million extension with $155 million guaranteed. It was a bigger new money deal than anticipated for the 25-year-old former first-round pick (in 2020) who has made only 20 career starts.
The $55 million yearly in new money ties him at the top of the QB market with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. But when the last year of his old contract (for $11 million) is factored in, the $46.2 million per year average over five years sounds more reasonable for Green Bay.
After a lackluster first half of last season, Love had a terrific late-season surge with 18 TD passes and one interception as the Packers went 6-2, earning a wildcard berth. Love then threw three TD passes in the wild card blowout of the Cowboys in Dallas and almost led a divisional round upset in San Francisco.
Tua Tagovailoa’s contract was extended by the Dolphins. It’s a four-year, $212.4 million new money deal ($53.1 million per year) with $93 million guaranteed at signing and $167 million in total guarantees. Including the final year of his rookie deal, Tagovailoa will earn $47 million per year over five years.
Miami was able to reduce Tagovailoa’s 2024 cap hit to $9.5 million under this new deal. Last season was the first time he has played in every game after missing eight games over the previous two seasons.
The Dolphins are hoping the 26-year-old Tagovailoa stays healthy and improves his late-season performance after finishing 2023 with losses in four of the last six games. He did make the Pro Bowl, leading the league with 4,624 passing yards. He also had career highs of 69.3% completions and 29 TD passes. In 2022, Tagovailoa was the NFL passer rating leader.
Another noteworthy extension for the Packers was with their Pro Bowl DT Kenny Clark, who has sometimes given the Vikings interior O-linemen fits. Clark’s new deal is a bargain for the Packers at $21 million per year when the top DT Chris Jones is at $31.75 million per year, and the Raiders’ Christian Wilkins (who has not made a Pro Bowl) was extended for $27.5 million per year.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA based in Minneapolis and does other sports consulting and media work along with college/corporate speaking. Follow him and direct message him on Twitter– @jeffdiamondnfl