The Real Reason the Vikings Are Keeping Fans Guessing
Outside of an unproven quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 roster is utterly stacked, at least compared to depth charts in the last decade or so.
The Vikings are keeping fans on edge about one specific move — whether they’ll add another player at cornerback. Here’s what to know about the spot.
The team does not have a litany of weaknesses, but if forced to choose one, aside from McCarthy’s inexperience, most fans would pick the cornerback position.
Indeed, Minnesota has kept fans guessing about the cornerback spot for about four months.
The CB Spot Keeps Vikings Fans Guessing
Does Minnesota enjoy its CB room as is, or will it add another to Brian Flores’ defense?
Possibly Shaky CB Spot on a Super Bowl Caliber Roster
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revamped his offensive line this offseason, so much so that it’s in the best shape since Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson left town about 15 years ago. The club also added two premier defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The trenches are loaded.
Then, the offensive weaponry, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Jalen Nailor, and rookie Tai Felton, is finalized.
The outside linebacker and safety rooms, for the most part, also pass the eye test.
Which brings the discussion to cornerback. The group has many names ready to contribute: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, Dwight McGlothern, and Ambry Thomas, among others. The quantity is great; the quality is “to be determined.”
Will Another CB Move Materialize?
Back in March, fans thought the Vikings had a puncher’s chance of signing D.J. Reed, free agency’s top prize. He swerved and became a Detroit Lion. Instead, Adofo-Mensah inked the aforementioned Rodgers, to which fans shrugged and thought, “Okay, this might work.”
Six weeks later, the draft arrived, and despite popular theories that Minnesota could land an early-round corner — Michigan’s Will Johnson even fell into their lap rather unexpectedly — the Vikings chose no cornerbacks.
All offseason, Minnesota has kept fans guessing about the cornerback situation, leading up to the here and now.
Free Agent Options
To keep folks guessing, a plethora of free-agent options remain. The list includes:
- James Bradberry
- Rasul Douglas
- Stephon Gilmore
- C.J. Henderson
- Mike Hilton
- Jack Jones
- Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel Jr., in particular, is fascinating because he’s been linked to Minnesota in the rumor mill for months and is apparently awaiting a clean bill of health after an April shoulder surgery.
What’s more, Zone Coverage‘s Matt Fries endorsed Stephon Gilmore’s return last month: “I think the Vikings should do the same at the CB position, bringing back a veteran presence as insurance. It could be either Gilmore or Griffin, but I prefer Gilmore based on his level of play last season.”
“Soon to be 35, Gilmore isn’t a long-term solution, but I think he’s still enough to stopgap the position, allowing for a more serious investment next offseason if Blackmon and/or Rodgers fail. Gilmore signed during training camp last year, and the team could quickly assimilate him back into the fold if they did so again this year, likely for less than the $7 million they paid him last year.”
CB Trades?
The Vikings, too, as no strangers to summer trades, could wheel and deal for an extra defensive back. That assortment could include:
- Jamel Dean (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys)
- Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns)
- Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks)
It’s worth noting that the Vikings have a mostly full draft capital piggybank in 2026 and beyond, unlike last year at this time, when they couldn’t really afford to trade more picks (the team had only four heading into the 2025 NFL Draft).
Don’t Forget Dwight McGlothern
Our own Janik Eckardt wrote about McGlothern last weekend: “A four-star prospect out of Texas, McGlothern joined LSU. He had a backup role in his first season and earned a starting gig in year two. The long corner then transferred to Arkansas. The DB possesses a promising athletic profile, with the requisite length at 6’2″ and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, although it is combined with underwhelming results in broad and vertical jumps.”
“In his 38 games in college, McGlothern accumulated 113 tackles and eight interceptions. The intriguing wrinkle is that seven of those came in the two campaigns at Arkansas, showing his playmaking ability. McGlothern stuck around all year. He was waiting for his chance and only got a few snaps.”
Eckardt considers McGlothern a “dark horse” to make an impact in 2025.
He continued, “The defender appeared in five games and logged 19 defensive snaps and 17 on special teams. He had 12 coverage snaps, allowing zero catches on two targets. In the preseason, he was targeted four times. Two of those were caught for a total of seven yards, and McGlothern snatched one pick. At the age of 23, he still has time to grow into a starter for the Vikings.”
“His role is a total mystery. The world exists in which he just arrives in training camp ready for a big role. Conversely, a bad camp could cost him his job.”
Thankfully, with training camp 12 days away, fans aren’t too far from a cornerback verdict. Perhaps the existing group will pass the tests with flying colors. If not, the free-agent and trade markets are fruitful.
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