Analyst Trashes One Spot of Vikings Roster
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster is in pretty spiffy shape with the summer around the bend, so much so that fans expect a Super Bowl window to open as early as now.
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner wasn’t afraid to call one spot on the Vikings roster … ugly.
The franchise will put the utmost faith in quarterback J.J. McCarthy, a 22-year-old from the 2024 NFL Draft. If he’s the real deal, well, the team can do just about anything in 2025 and beyond.
But according to CBS Sports‘ Mike Renner, the Vikings’ defensive secondary is “ugly.” So, maybe the roster needs a little repair, at least from a national perspective.
The Secondary Is “Ugly,” Per One NFL Analyst
Renner said about the Vikings on CBS Sports airwaves this week: “I think they need to trade for a cornerback. They’ve lost a lot of pieces from that secondary in 2024, Stephon Gilmore, Cam Bynum. This cornerback group right now, like Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Byron Murphy — it’s ugly. If you really think you’re in a championship window, you need to be better than that at the cornerback position.”
Ugly is a strong word, and most fans don’t share total apprehension about Brian Flores’ cornerbacks and safeties.
The unit could, however, stand to welcome a bit of an upgrade at cornerback.
In Brian Flores We Trust?
Here’s the deal on the “ugly” verbiage: Would defensive coordinator Brian Flores really sign off on an ugly secondary? Probably not.
Of course, Bynum left for the Indianapolis Colts, and two veteran corners, Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin, haven’t re-signed. But was paying Bynum top dollar a wise option for a team that trusts Theo Jackson for a promotion?
And why would the Vikings re-up with Gilmore or Griffin, both 30 years or older, for a Super Bowl push that should last for at least four years? Gilmore and Griffin are mid-tier solutions.
The rule of thumb here might be, “If it’s good enough for Flores, it should be good enough for you.”
Last Year Wasn’t Ugly
Flores might tell naysayers that his defense was pretty damn splendid in 2024. The group ranked second per DVOA and EPA/Play last year, and this offseason, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah.
Adding those men while losing Bynum, Gilmore, and Griffin may not be a serious downgrade.
If the Vikings finished last year with a 25th-ranked defense, for example, the naughty Renner adjectives might apply. But they didn’t.
How to Fix the Ugliness?
What if Renner is on to something? The Vikings’ secondary is ugly, and they’re just biding their time for enhancements.
Free-agent cornerbacks Mike Hilton, Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones, and Asante Samuel Jr. live on the open market. Gilmore and Griffin, somewhat ironically for the purposes of this article, are also options.
Lately, momentum for a Jalen Ramsey trade has crossed the Vikings’ radar. And Jaire Alexander may or may not be released before too long.
There are also out-there trade ideas for cornerbacks, involving players like Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns) and Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks).
If Renner is anywhere close to right, there are alternatives for repair.
PurplePTSD on the Secondary
At our affiliate, PurplePTSD‘s Kyle Joudry recently sized up the Vikings’ secondary.
He wrote, “Are the Vikings in a difficult spot if one of the corners goes down? More specifically, what happens if Byron Murphy Jr. needs to step away to get back to full health? The top corner has been brought back and is being paid like a top corner. Bringing him back meant handing over a three-year deal worth a total of $54 million. The Vikings, very reasonably, gave Murphy a strong raise in March. The concern rests in whether he’ll be available for every game.”
“The issue occurs when we look to see who’s beyond Murphy. There’s promise but little in terms of certainty.”
The Vikings may also have more faith in Isaiah Rodgers, their first free-agent signing of the offseason, than most fans and pundits.
Joudry added, “If everything goes to plan, the Vikings should be in an alright spot. Byron Murphy is a low-end CB1 who offers the desired versatility and intelligence to thrive as Flores’ top option. The NFL, though, is sometimes a league where things don’t go to plan.”
“Minnesota understands the reality well. In 2023, Murphy played in just fourteen games. The year before saw him down at nine games. These injury issues don’t doom him to a life in the infirmary, but they’re nevertheless a reminder that things can (and do) happen in a sport as physical as football.”
If the Vikings pursue a cornerback trade, the June 1st date marks the moment when deals are more manageable. Financial restrictions tend to ease.
Vikings Big Trade Idea Has New Support
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