Minnesota Vikings free agency has not been quiet, adding Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), and Isaiah Rodgers (CB) so far. The team also re-signed Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
Vikings Need One More Thing for Home Run Free Agency
Fans have embraced all those names and transactions with open arms, but now it’s time for a cake topper.
It’s an extra cornerback, and it could arrive in five forms.
The In-House Route
Shaquill Griffin or Stephon Gilmore
The least sexy option, the Vikings could “get the band back together,” adding another spot starter with a corner from last year — Griffin or Gilmore.
Here’s the purple CB room through two days of free agency:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
Re-adding Griffin or Gilmore would ensure Minnesota wasn’t forced to draft a corner early in the draft. It could truly draft the best player available, regardless of position.
The Experienced Route
Mike Hilton or Rasul Douglas
Mike Hilton is the best blitzing cornerback in the sport, music to the ears of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He’s unsigned in free agency at the time of this article’s publication.
Vikings fans know Douglas because of his Green Bay Packers stint, recently playing, too, for the Buffalo Bills.
Both men could hold down the fort while Minnesota decided if newcomer Isaiah Rodgers was a legitimate starter, and generally speaking, provide depth at CB.
Because, all of a sudden, Kevin O’Connell’s team is a Super Bowl contender if one assumes J.J. McCarthy will become the real deal.
The Youth & Upside Route
Asante Samuel Jr. or Jeff Okudah
Let’s say, for instance, that Minnesota wants to sign a quasi-big-name at CB and that Murphy Jr. + Rodgers are merely the tip of the iceberg.
The next logical step would be Asante Samuel Jr., who remains available on the open market. Okudah, as well, has really fancy draft stock from a few years ago, and that might entice general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
It’s worth noting that Samuel Jr. won’t be on the market for long.
The Packer Route
Jaire Alexander
The Packers will probably release Jaire Alexander within the next few days, and let’s face it, the Vikings typically add at least one former member of the cheese team each offseason.
That could be Alexander this go-round, and the Vikings would hope to squeeze the elite play from Alexander after a down 2024 campaign.
He won’t count against Minnesota’s precious 2026 compensatory draft pick formula, either.
5. The Sexy Trade Route
Sauce Gardner or Denzel Ward
The Sauce Gardner theory appeared to germinate from an account named “Playmaker Dave,” who boasts an impressive social media accuracy run, predicting events like Daniel Jones to the Vikings a few months ago, Davante Adams to the Los Angeles Rams, and Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, among other fulfilled prophecies.
The account tweeted Tuesday, “SOURCE: Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets in discussions for blockbuster trade involving Sauce Gardner’ lots of movement in the last 24 hours and the cap situation makes it all work.'”
If that’s even remotely real — it could be completely fake — Minnesota could splash mightily for Gardner.
Too, early offseason theories hinted that Adofo-Mensah could trade his 24th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for Denzel Ward.
This one might be unlikely because the Vikings have so few draft picks this April. But it was mentioned for full disclosure.
Vikings Go Nuts, Add Another Pro Bowler
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 MIN 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.