Familiar Free Agent Recommended for Vikings
Stop us if you’ve heard this before — the Minnesota Vikings should sign Stephon Gilmore.
Familiar Free Agent Recommended for Vikings
A familiar rallying cry from the summer of 2024, Pro Football Network has renewed the recommendation this offseason, with the 2025 NFL Draft in the books and some remaining free agents still on the open market.
PFN thinks Minnesota should sign Gilmore for a second act.
PFN Says Stephon Gilmore for Vikings
Connecting a free agent to each NFL team, PFN’s Sterling Xie urged Minnesota to re-up with Gilmore, who will turn 35 this September.
Xie explained, “Flores could be hard-pressed to help the Minnesota Vikings replicate last year’s third-place finish in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. The Vikings’ secondary feels incomplete even after bringing back Byron Murphy on a lucrative free agent deal. Isaiah Rodgers and Mekhi Blackmon project as their perimeter starting corners after no players were drafted at the position, a significant downgrade from 2024 on paper.”
“Of course, both Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin remain unsigned, so nothing’s stopping Minnesota from piecing last year’s cornerback room back together. Of the two, Gilmore would be the more desirable target, and is really only looking at one-year deals as he turns 35 in September.”
The Vikings signed Gilmore last summer after rookie corner Khyree Jackson tragically passed away and second-year defender Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL. At times in the regular season, Gilmore was vital to the team’s success.
Xie added, “Even at his age, Gilmore is still performing well. His 7.1 yards per target allowed were a reasonable number on 84 targets, and his three missed tackles were his fewest since 2021. Even if the Vikings feel strongly about giving the former third-rounder Blackmon an extended opportunity to play, adding Gilmore wouldn’t block him and would also raise the secondary’s floor.”
Gilmore in 2024
In Minnesota for the one-year arrangement, Gilmore banked a 94.2 passer-rating-against and a 63.9 Pro Football Focus grade.
Generally speaking, the five-time Pro Bowler represented a dependable option in Brian Flores’ defense, although Gilmore did look like a 34-year-old in certain spots. It’s just the way it goes.
Gilmore logged nine pass break-ups and an interception in purple. The pick actually occurred in a pivotal spot — off Aaron Rodgers — in a game in London versus the New York Jets, which Minnesota won.
What about Retirement?
When the offseason began, Gilmore hinted at retirement, and because his 35th birthday is around the bend, most believed the outcome would prevail.
But about four months into the offseason, Gilmore has not retired and will remain a break-in-case-of-emergency option for many NFL teams. He’s a tremendous spot starter, even at an advanced NFL age.
A Gilmore Sighting in Dallas
Right before the draft, folks spotted Gilmore at Dallas Cowboys headquarters, the team that employed him in 2023. Of course, his presence led to contract theories, though a few media members insisted no deal was on the horizon.
Soon after, the Cowboys drafted East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. from Round 3, dampening Gilmore-to-Dallas rumors.
Realism of a Vikings Reunion
The Vikings have Byron Murphy Jr. at the top of the CB ticket after he re-signed in March to a handsome extension. Following Murphy Jr. on the depth chart, Isaiah Rodgers figures to win the CB2 job unless Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, or Dwight McGlothern have other plans.
Rodgers feels like an “ace in the hole” free-agent signing, a player Minnesota’s coaching staff may have grand plans for, at least more than fans initially foresaw.
If one of those men succumbed to injury — like Blackmon last July — a reunion with Gilmore might check some boxes.
Other Gilmore Connections from PFN
Xie also named the Baltimore Ravens as a landing spot for Gilmore. He wrote, “Even with one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens are likely to add a few vets in the upcoming weeks. The Ravens play the compensatory pick game as deftly as any organization, and past years have seen late-offseason additions like Jadeveon Clowney pay off.”
“Perimeter cornerback is one of the few remaining question marks on the roster. Their only selections at the position came in the sixth round with Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam.”
Gilmore also won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2018.
Xie continued, “Some of this could be solved by playing Kyle Hamilton more at nickel with Marlon Humphrey kicking outside more often. However, Baltimore’s defense stabilized last year when Hamilton became a full-time safety, so the Ravens might want to see if rookie Malaki Starks is ready for a full-time workload first before moving Hamilton around.”
“A veteran like Stephon Gilmore would be a starting-level player who would allow the Ravens to avoid depending on an unknown, such as Jalyn Armour-Davis or T.J. Tampa. Gilmore’s past experience in man-heavy schemes could translate well to a Ravens defense that played man at the ninth-highest rate in 2024. He’s still a quality starter, as evidenced by his 7.1 yards per target allowed with the Vikings last year.”
The Dolphins also earned a mention, in addition to the Vikings and Ravens, as a 2025 home for Gilmore.
Other free agents like Jack Jones, Shaquill Griffin, Mike Hilton, or Rasul Douglas could be options for the Vikings if the front office and coaching staff decide one more veteran is needed.
Vikings Landed 2 “Draft Steals”
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