It Turns Out the Vikings Found an Absolute Gem at the Cornerback Position
The Minnesota Vikings were big spenders in free agency, signing big names like Will Fries and Jonathan Allen.
However, one position that many did not see as getting all that stronger this offseason was the cornerback spot. There were many critiques heading into the season that the Vikings did not do enough to surround Byron Murphy with talent.
There is one player looking to turn that narrative around though, and he has been absolutely fantastic through the first five weeks of the season.
The Vikings’ CB Gem
Isaiah Rodgers signed with the Vikings this offseason on a two-year deal worth $15 million. He was largely an unknown at the time, considering he was largely a backup throughout the early portions of his NFL career.
Through his first five seasons, Rodgers played 60 games but started just 13 of them. Nine of those starts came in 2022 with the Indianapolis Colts before he was suspended for the entire 2023 season because of a gambling violation.
The Vikings are quickly being proven right on Rodgers as the cornerback has been one of the best players at the position all season.
Amid a myriad of injuries across Minnesota’s roster, Rodgers has been a symbol of consistency out of the secondary by starting all five games.
Rodgers’ standout game, of course, was Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he recorded a pick-six, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery touchdown. He’s been very solid in just about every other game as well, though. despite PFF giving him pretty middling grades on a week-to=week basis.
Here is what PFF has graded Rodgers in every week this season:
- Week 1: 52.0
- Week 2: 60.2
- Week 3: 99.9
- Week 4: 51.6
- Week 5: 61.3
Despite those grades, Rodgers has proven to be effective in coverage. He has allowed a greater than 50% completion percentage when targeted in just one of five games this season. That game was against the Steelers in Week 4 when he gave up four receptions on four targets for 26 yards.
Outside of that game, he has allowed seven receptions on 17 targets for 74 yards, and he is yet to give up a touchdown this season. His opposing passer rating when targeted is 44.9, which is the fourth-best among all cornerbacks with at least 75 snaps.
The Vikings will need their defense to come up big for them for the rest of the season, especially with very difficult opponents remaining on their schedule.
So far, Rodgers has done a beautiful job of becoming a key part of that defense, and hopefully, it continues throughout the rest of the year.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference.
You must be logged in to post a comment.