Vikings Host Former First-Rounder
The Vikings were extremely active in the first week of free agency, earning them a ton of praise for their actions. Will Fries and Ryan Kelly solidify the underwhelming interior blocking unit, while defenders Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen are supposed to help generate some pressure from the inside.
Vikings Host Former First-Rounder
In addition to those big signings, the Vikings also brought back cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on a massive contract. Despite his return, the cornerback crew will look a lot differently in 2025. Isaiah Rodgers was signed after winning a ring with the Eagles, and Mekhi Blackmon will return from the ACL tear he suffered in training camp.
But the Vikings aren’t done, perhaps looking for one more body in the room to maximize flexibility in the draft without being forced to pick any specific position.
Therefore, Jeff Okudah, once a highly-touted draft prospect, is scheduled to visit the Vikings.
Ben Goessling reported, “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.”
The team confirmed.
The Vikings love to sign players coming off injuries, and Okudah is another one with an extensive injury history.
But let’s start at the beginning. Okudah was a Detroit Lions draft pick in 2020, the third overall pick, to be exact. He was drafted ahead of a bunch of stars, including Justin Jefferson, but his strong career at Ohio State made him an intriguing prospect.
A cornerback with length (6-1 and 205 lbs) and the requisite speed (he ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine) often hits, especially elite prospects drafted in the top ten. Okudah is one of the few that didn’t.
A couple of muscle injuries limited him to only nine games in his rookie season. Year two was supposed to be his breakout campaign, but the Lions defender suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1, prematurely ending his season.
In his third season, the cornerback-needy Lions got 15 games out of their costly investment before shipping him to Atlanta for the final year of his rookie contract. The Lions only received a fifth-round pick in return.
Okudah played 13 games in Atlanta and then dipped in free agency, signing a one-year deal with the Texans. The hip injury once again limited him to six games.
Throughout his career, injuries have piled up. The defender has played 44 career games in five seasons, and when he was healthy, his play also didn’t live up to his first-round pedigree.
But that’s where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s history as a Wall Street Trader comes into play. A talented defender with injury problems would just be a talented defender if he could stay healthy, and signing him to a cheap contract doesn’t come with too much risk and might be a gamble worth taking.
Minnesota’s cornerback room now looks like this:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Tavierre Thomas
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
It still feels like the crew is one man short, especially one who could play a rotational or even starting role. Rodgers and Blackmon have never been full-time starters.
Adding Okudah is a low-risk move. The visit will most likely include some sort of physical to check if there are any ongoing issues, which is a pretty normal thing for a player with his injury resume.
He just turned 26 and Brian Flores could unlock something in a corner that brings some upside. Okudah could be a nice depth piece.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, 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