A New Cornerback Arrives in Minnesota
The Minnesota Vikings have kicked off their training camp to prepare for the 2024 season, but bad news hit quickly. Sophomore breakout candidate Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL, leaving the Vikes with a hole in the secondary. The previously shaky cornerback group was suddenly even more underwhelming, so the team had to act and sign some bodies.
A New Cornerback Arrives in Minnesota
The first addition was Jacobi Francis, a former depth player of the Houston Texans. He isn’t a strong candidate to make the team after two seasons of practice squad duties with the Texans. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also acquired safety Bobby McCain who is familiar with coordinator Brian Flores and has the flexibility to play in the slot.
On Tuesday, Minnesota signed veteran defender Fabian Moreau, according to Mike Garafolo, who reported on X: “The Vikings are signing veteran CB Fabian Moreau, source says. Moreau played in 16 games for the Broncos last season with 11 starts, recording one interception and seven passes defensed. Former third-round pick of the Commanders heads into his eighth NFL season.”
Moreau entered the league as a third-round selection in 2017. Washington selected him out of UCLA. On his pro day, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle while doing bench presses. The injury hurt his draft stock. Still, his profile was intriguing, including his 4.35-second 40-yard dash. In four seasons in Washington, he played in 60 games with 18 starts, logging six interceptions. He gained a ton of experience in the slot and on the outside.
When his rookie contract expired, the defender signed a one-year contract with the Falcons, where he started 16 games in 2021 and eclipsed 1,000 defensive snaps, primarily as a boundary cornerback. His next stop was in Houston, where he inexplicably was released during the preseason. The Giants acquired him, and he played in 14 contests and 749 snaps, once again, mainly on the outside.
Last season, he joined the Denver Broncos. Just like this year, he arrived during training camp but ended up playing 740 snaps on defense in 16 games. In his eight-year career, Moreau has appeared in 106 games (56 starts), made 298 tackles, and registered seven interceptions. The Vikings are his sixth team in the league.
His Pro Football Focus grades have been underwhelming:
- 2017: 43.3 (not eligible)
- 2018: 60.4 (94th/112 eligible CBs)
- 2019: 52.7 (100th/116)
- 2020: 64.7 (not eligible)
- 2021: 57.7 (84th/116)
- 2022: 56.5 (90th/118)
- 2023: 62.4 (73rd/127)
There aren’t any game-changing corners available in late July. However, Moreau is a veteran presence who can at least provide a solid floor both inside and outside.
The CB group is still a mystery behind starter Byron Murphy. Shaquill Griffin is currently held out of practice, recovering from a minor injury. The defender is past his prime and has struggled with injuries in the past four years.
The 2022 draftees Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth have shown some promise in their 2023 season but failed to show consistency in their sophomore campaigns. If neither can step up, Moreau could actually end up starting in Week 1.
Duke Shelley, a 2022 standout in Minnesota’s rough defense, was re-signed. It remains to be seen if he can rekindle his magic from two years ago. Undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern could be a wildcard to make noise in the next few weeks.
Moreau isn’t a flashy solution, but he was likely one of the better options on the free agency market. He turned 30 earlier in the offseason.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Déjà Vu: Undrafted Rookie Logs First-Team Reps
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt