Vikings Fans Suddenly Worried about New Roster Issue
All of a sudden, Minnesota Vikings fans are wondering just what in the hell is going on at the cornerback spot.
Vikings fans are suddenly anxietal about a new roster issue as preseason cuts and depth chart moves spark fresh fears, with Week 1 less than two weeks away.
The team seemed to have satisfactory CB depth as recently as two or three weeks ago. But all of that peace of mind has fallen by the wayside this week.
Long story short: fans believe the purple team needs an extra cornerback or two.
Vikings Fans Have a CB Roster Concern
Thankfully, Minnesota has 12 days to find a fix at the position.
Vikings Fan Anxietal about CB Room
Minnesota revealed its regular season roster on Tuesday afternoon, a much-anticipated event that solves all summer depth chart questions.
And when folks peeked at that badboy, it revealed just four corners:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
For context, some teams carry seven CBs onto the active roster. Kevin O’Connell’s squad employs only four, which has raised eyebrows.
So, what happened?
Mekhi Blackmon Gone
Here’s what happened, foremost: all offseason, fans have interpreted Mekhi Blackmon, a starting-caliber defensive back, an ace in the hole, especially if Rodgers or Okudah didn’t work out. Rodgers and Okudah have never consistently thrived as starting corners in the NFL.
As it turned out, though, Blackmon was apparently a roster-bubble character, freshly healed from a torn ACL that cancelled his whole 2024 season.
The Vikings traded Blackmon this week to the Indianapolis Colts for a 6th-Round pick, and with the snap of two fingers, the CB depth vanished. There is none. No more. It’s gone. Undrafted free agents are the in-house options for CB depth.
How to Fix — Trades
Most onlookers think the Vikings will repair this budding concern. A popular fix? Perhaps a trade would do the trick.
Theoretically, these players could be available for the right price:
- Jamel Dean (TB)
- Trevon Diggs (DAL)
- Jaylon Jones (IND)
- Zyon McCollum (TB)
- Clark Phillips (ATL)
- Jaylen Watson (KC)
That list is based on rumor and hearsay and should not be considered a verifiable trade block. It’s a guestimate.
How to Fix — Free Agents
The easier method is obviously free agency. After roster cuts on Tuesday, these men could be available to Minnesota:
- Corey Ballentine
- Cameron Dantzler
- Kendall Fuller
- Stephon Gilmore
- Mike Hilton
- Kalen King
- Damarri Mathis
- Fabian Moreau
- Nik Needham
- Duke Shelley
Gilmore probably leads the way for likelihood, as he played for the Vikings — quite well — last season and is unsigned through 5.5 months of free agency.
More on the CB Worry
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad added context to Minnesota’s alleged CB problem: “The Vikings also are in need of help at cornerback. Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers will start and it’s expected Jeff Okudah will be used as an outside corner when Murphy moves inside in the nickel package.”
“The only other cornerback currently on the roster is 2024 undrafted free agent Dwight McGlothern. A day after trading 2023 third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon to Indianapolis, the Vikings jettisoned Zemaiah Vaughn and Ambry Thomas. Vaughn, signed as an undrafted free agent from Utah, likely will be signed to the practice squad, assuming he clears waivers.”
Minnesota has approximately $20 million in cap space after the Adam Thielen trade to alleviate any CB concerns.
Zulgad continued, “While the assumption has been that Adofo-Mensah recently made three trades in order to accumulate draft picks to acquire a wide receiver, there’s a chance he would be willing to surrender more draft capital in a deal for an established cornerback. The wide receiver conundrum is a short-term problem that needs fixing, but the cornerback issue has the potential to become a season-long headache.”
“Last summer, the Vikings addressed the corner spot in late August by signing veteran Stephon Gilmore to a one-year, $10 million contract. Gilmore, who will turn 35 in September, has yet to sign with a team after expressing a desire to continue his career in July.”
No matter what, Minnesota will likely find an extra cornerback or two before long. Heading into a regular season with only four is strange. The newcomer feels like a matter of when, not if.
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