Vikings Encouraged to Trade for Young Defender
The Minnesota Vikings have tabulated a 4-0 record through four weeks, which not many thought would be even remotely possible, considering the tough matchups against the 49ers, Texans, and at the Packers. But here we are at the top of the NFC, and the Vikings are suddenly realistic buyers on the trade market.
Vikings Encouraged to Trade for Young Defender
Brian Flores needed one transition year to rebuild the defense. It has been an elite unit in 2024, forcing opposing quarterbacks into mistakes while stopping the run and everything over the top.
But there’s one spot the front office could address, says Bleacher Report. The “scouting department” of the website suggests the addition of Buffalo’s cornerback Kaiir Elam.
Byron Murphy Jr. hasn’t been playing well this season as he allowed 16 completions on 22 targets (72.7 percent) and a passer rating of 117.4 heading into this weekend, according to Pro Football Focus. Murphy is also in a contract year, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring in a young corner who can help right away and be a potential long-term solution.
PFF hasn’t been a fan of Murphy’s play since he arrived in Minnesota in 2023, but the former second-rounder has been solid. The inflated statistics can partly be attributed to Flores’ system but also to Jordan Love slinging the ball all over the field in Sunday’s divisional bout when the Vikings played some off-coverage to prevent the rivals from creating any splashy plays.
Flores’ defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and in EPA/Play, which would suggest that cornerbacks haven’t even an issue at all.
The one aspect in which Bleacher Report is right is that Elam could be a long-term solution. Mekhi Blackmon and Akayleb Evans are currently penciled in as the starting CBs for next season. The starters are all scheduled to become free agents after the 2024 campaign. Adding another young defender in the cornerback room makes sense.
But why Elam? Bleacher Report has the answer: “The third-year pro may not be the proven commodity the organization is hoping for, but that’s primarily because he’s been stuck behind Christian Benford. The 2022 first-round pick has plenty of talent to potentially be an immediate contributor, though.”
Elam was a highly-touted draft prospect in 2022, Andrew Booth’s class. He has intriguing length and athletic tools, but he was somewhat raw coming out, and his skills haven’t translated to the NFL field.
In the first two seasons of his career, the former Florida Gator has only played in 16 games, and he logged just over 600 defensive snaps. This year, he has played in all four games but only on 23 defensive snaps and 23 special teams snaps.
The Vikings currently have six cornerbacks on their roster:
- Byron Murphy
- Stephon Gilmore
- Shaq Griffin
- Akayleb Evans
- Fabian Moreau
- Dwight McGlothern
Moreau has plenty of starting experience in the NFL and could be an option in case of injury, and Evans started last year. While his play was up and down, he surely is a decent backup. Undrafted rookie McGlothern had an outstanding preseason but was inactive in all four games.
Elam would be a reclamation project, and the Vikings could try to get something out of a player with a first-round pedigree who is only 23 years old, but he is unlikely to be an upgrade even as a depth player. The good news for the trade idea is that he doesn’t cost more than a late-round pick.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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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