Free Agent CB Will Visit the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings currently employ 11 cornerbacks on their roster heading into the summer.
According to recent reports, though, a 12th CB could be thrown into the mix soon. That player is Jerry Jacobs, who has spent each of his first three NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions and currently is one of the top remaining free agent CBs on the market.
Free Agent CB Will Visit the Vikings
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN tweeted the news on Tuesday morning, “Free agent cornerback Jerry Jacobs is visiting the #Falcons and the #Vikings over the next few days, per source. Jacobs recorded 55 tackles, three interceptions and eight passes defended for Detroit last season.”
Jacobs joined the Detroit Lions back in 2021 after splitting his collegiate career at Arkansas State and Arkansas. He spent two seasons (2018 and 2019) with Arkansas State before transferring to Arkansas in 2020.
During that sole season at Arkansas, Jacobs recorded 17 tackles and a tackle for loss in four games. Jacobs struggled with injuries throughout the year, and it resulted in the cornerback going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft before signing with the Lions.
Jacobs immediately found a role in the Lions defense during his rookie season. He played 13 games for Detroit in 2021, and he made nine starts, recording 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, seven passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
After another solid season in 2022, Jacobs put up career highs almost across the board during Detroit’s 2023 run to the NFC Championship Game. The cornerback appeared in 15 games during the regular season, including 12 starts, and compiled 55 tackles, two tackles for loss, eight passes defended, and three interceptions.
At 5’11” and 203 pounds, Jacobs has a decent frame for an NFL cornerback, but he has struggled mightily in man coverage. PFF graded him at 38.1 in that department during the 2023 campaign compared to 65.2 in zone.
The Vikings have a very interesting CB battle on their hands this summer with a number of players who hold differing skillsets in coverage. Adding Jacobs would throw a 12th player into that room for the summer.
Seeing as the Vikings have a full 90-man roster, they would need to release another player if they were to bring Jacobs aboard.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.