This Is the Vikings’ Top Roster Concern, Evidently
Many national NFL outlets consider the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback position to be the team’s primary weakness, or at least a great unknown.
PFN found the Vikings’ biggest roster weakness entering 2025 — and it’s not QB, offense, or any coach. Here’s the skinny.
J.J. McCarthy has not taken a regular season snap in the NFL, missing his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a torn meniscus.
But then Pro Football Network came along last week to disagree with quarterback as Minnesota’s top question mark, nominating the cornerback spot instead.
Here are the details.
PFN Says Cornerback as Vikings’ Main Weakness
PFN’s Jacob Infante labeled one question mark — roster weakness — for each NFL team, and for the Vikings, the cornerback room stood off the page.
He wrote, “Cornerback. With just one pick in the top 100 selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Vikings didn’t have many chances to upgrade their roster. Cornerback was the position that arguably suffered the most from that.”
“Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin are no longer on the team, which makes way for Isaiah Rodgers, who was a backup in Philadelphia, and either Jeff Okudah or Mekhi Blackmon. Either way, Minnesota’s CB room is arguably its biggest question mark heading into 2025.”
While not a totally glaring deficiency, if one asked a dozen fans to find Minnesota’s main weakness two months before the regular season, about 75% would likely say cornerback.
In that vein, PFN is not off its rocker.
PFN Names the Vikings’ Main Question Mark
It’s not the quarterback room, silly. It’s the cornerbacks.
A Swerve from Quarterback
However, most NFL pundits observe Minnesota’s depth chart as tailor-made for a deep postseason run. The only red flag, for them, is McCarthy’s game-readiness.
Minnesota refused to re-sign Sam Darnold this offseason and also let Daniel Jones leave in free agency for the Indianapolis Colts. And if that wasn’t enough, the Vikings said “no” to Aaron Rodgers, who reportedly wanted to end his career in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota has the utmost faith in McCarthy; some NFL talking heads disagree. But not PFN.
Why Is CB a Weakness?
The Vikings’ cornerbacks are perceived as shaky for one reason: after Byron Murphy Jr., a Pro Bowler, on the depth chart, there is no proven startable commodity.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Isaiah Rodgers in March, and he’s on deck to grab the CB2 job. After Rodgers, it’s a sandwich of Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, Dwight McGlothern, and Ambry Thomas.
Most teams with Super Bowl aspirations have at least two proven corners. Minnesota does not.
How to Fix It
Meanwhile, paths to remedy weakness are available. These men can be signed today from free agency:
—— Rasul Douglas
—— Stephon Gilmore
—— Mike Hilton
—— Jack Jones
—— Asante Samuel Jr.
And these defensive backs could hypothetically be available for trade:
—— Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys)
—— Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns)
—— Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks)
Question Marks for Packers, Lions
Infante also opined on Minnesota’s main rival, the Green Bay Packers, and their foremost question mark: “Wide Receiver. The running joke is that the Green Bay Packers have an entire group of WR2s in their wide receiver room. The hope is that this changes with the selection of Matthew Golden in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.”
“Green Bay has good depth, but they still don’t have a true WR star in the mix. Between Golden, Jayden Reed, and Christian Watson, the hope is they’ll get a 1,000-yard receiver since Davante Adams’ last season with the team in 2021.”
And for the Detroit Lions, a team expected to win the NFC North in 2025: “Interior Offensive Line. Kevin Zeitler predictably left the Detroit Lions this offseason, leaving an opening at right guard. What was less predictable was the late retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow.”
“Graham Glasgow stays in Detroit’s starting lineup along the interior, though he was the weak link of the line last year. Entering the fray are guard Christian Mahogany and center Tate Ratledge: two talented prospects coming out of college, but both head into 2025 unproven as NFL starters.”
Fans will gain clarity at training camp and in the preseason whether the current Minnesota cornerback room needs any beef.
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