Exciting CB Stops by Vikings for Potential Signing
The Minnesota Vikings may not be done adding snazzy new free agents.
Exciting CB Stops by Vikings for Potential Signing
The purple team will host once-promising cornerback Jeff Okudah for a free-agent visit this week.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling tweeted, “The Vikings are hosting cornerback Jeff Okudah on a free agent visit today. The third overall pick in the 2020 draft, Okudah has had stops in Atlanta and Houston since the Lions drafted him. He’s coming off a hip injury that cost him nine games last year.”
Who Is Jeff Okudah?
If Okudah sounds familiar, well, he should. The Detroit Lions — back when they were atrocious and played the little brother to the Vikings — drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It was the same day that Minnesota pulled Justin Jefferson out of the event from LSU after the Philadelphia Eagles notoriously passed on Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, who is, too, now a former Viking.
But Okudah’s career has never taken off — not by a long shot.
Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 31.0
- 2023: 50.5
- 2022: 59.4
- 2021: 53.0
- 2020: 42.5
And Okudah’s NFL resume since 2020:
- Detroit Lions (2020–2022)
- Atlanta Falcons (2023)
- Houston Texans (2024)
The man’s pass coverage is especially dastardly. He’s never topped a 55.0 grade per PFF in the metric.
So, like many “upside” free agents, Vikings fans would merely have to hope that Minnesota is where Okudah turned it around.
Vikings’ Would-Be Outlook with Okudah
Without Okudah, Minnesota’s cornerback position is taking shape, aided by the re-signing of defender Byron Murphy Jr. last week. His reunion made it so that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah started his CB offseason quest from a point of strength.
This is Minnesota’s new look CB group, with newcomers in bold:
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr.
CB2: Mekhi Blackmon
CB3: Isaiah Rodgers
CB4: Dwight McGlothern
CB5: Tavierre Thomas
CB6: NaJee Thompson
CB7: Nahshon Wright
CB8: Ambry Thomas
CB9: Reddy Steward
CB10: Kahlef Hailassie
If Minnesota passes on Okudah but still wants a decent free-agent corner, players like Mike Hilton, Asante Samuel Jr., and Rasul Douglas remain available on the open market as of March 16th.
Some Green Bay Packers-themed media have mentioned Okudah, too, as a free-agent possibility for the cheese team. Zone Coverage‘s Felipe Reis wrote last week, “Five seasons of tape highlight how Okudah has struggled to meet the expectations of a third-overall pick. However, that reality emphasizes the importance for Green Bay, should they sign him, to maintain a clear understanding of their roster-building philosophy.”
“While Okudah could provide valuable competition, the Packers mustn’t view him as a lock for the final roster simply because he’s a free-agent pickup. Adding Okudah is an opportunity to bolster depth and foster competition, but it does not guarantee him a roster spot.”
The 2025 Defense
Okudah, if signed, would battle for a roster spot this summer unless the Vikings already see something special in him from afar. For now, Murphy Jr., Blackmon, and Rodgers are on deck to command the most snaps on Sunday, with another player — possibly Okudah — as a wildcard to the plan.
Minnesota’s defense ranked second per DVOA in 2024 under Brian Flores and improved immensely from the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. With 2024 free-agent newcomers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman, the Vikings’ defense became a formidable unit and will look to get even better in 2025 with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, two new defensive tackles, in the mix.
At cornerback, Minnesota could also draft one in five weeks. Rookies like Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Jahdae Barron (Texas), Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina), and Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) should be available in April’s draft.
Vikings Free Agency to Date
The Vikings have notably signed Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), and Isaiah Rodgers (CB) in free agency in addition to re-upping with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
Okudah would merely be the next addition in free agency — and a player who fans would identify with “maybe” stakes in 2025. Through five NFL seasons, when a player hasn’t quite busted out — or done anything, really — he probably won’t start in Year No. 6.
In fact, Okudah feels a lot like the aforementioned Reagor, who Minnesota tried on for size in 2022.
Okudah turned 26 last month, still in his career’s prime.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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