WR Isn’t the Only Thing the Vikings Should Trade For
The wide receiver rumors have been ongoing for the Minnesota Vikings. Jordan Addison is suspended, and Jalen Nailor is at least banged up (his Week 1 status is mysterious). Besides Justin Jefferson, there’s no established wideout left. Adam Thielen makes sense, but that shouldn’t stop the Vikings from exploring a different position, too.
The Vikings Need a Cornerback
The cornerback room is still very much a concern. After the early camp buzz, reality sets in that Jeff Okudah was virtually just handed a starting job without any serious competition. Mekhi Blackmon was apparently not good enough to stick around, as he was shipped to Indianapolis for a sixth-rounder.
Okudah has not shown starting-quality play in his five NFL seasons. If he’s struggling, there’s no real alternative route with only a pair of undrafted, young cornerbacks remaining: Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn. Both have had their issues in the preseason. Ambry Thomas is the sixth corner on the roster. He hasn’t played in the league since 2023 and is considered a long shot to make the 53-man roster.
After years of subpar cornerback groups, would the Vikings really be satisfied with a Week 1 starting unit of Okudah, Byron Murphy Jr., and Isaiah Rodgers, with no proven alternative on the bench in case of injury?
War Chest
The trade market should undoubtedly be used to find another receiver, but cornerback should be right next on the to-do list, and observing the CB market is a must for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. In recent days, he pulled off three trades. He received draft picks, and other teams received Blackmon, Harrison Phillips, and Sam Howell.
At this point, the Vikings are projected to enter next year’s draft with:
- 1st
- 2nd
- 3rd
- 3rd (compensatory pick for Sam Darnold)
- 4th (compensatory pick for Daniel Jones)
- 5th
- 5th (Eagles)
- 5th (compensatory pick for Cam Robinson)
- 6th (Colts)
- 7th
- 7th (Texans)
Losing one or more of those picks in a trade for another cornerback, whether a starter or a backup, isn’t the end of the world. Entering the upcoming season with the current cornerback room could very well be. In both years under Brian Flores, the defense got exposed at some point, in part because the cornerbacks were limited in what they could do. That can’t happen a third time.
Candidates
Jamel Dean was everyone’s pipe dream a couple of years ago when he was supposed to hit free agency. The corner ultimately returned to Tampa Bay. Rumors about a potential trade have been swirling. The Bucs have too many cornerbacks, actually. Tyrek Funderburk would be the less exciting option, but could provide depth in the Twin Cities. Starter Zyon McCollum is younger than Dean and might be expendable amid the many rookies on the team.
Denver’s Riley Moss might be on the market, too. The third-year corner out of Iowa will eventually lose his job to rookie Jahdae Barron. He didn’t look too good against Tee Higgins last year (many don’t), but is overall a serviceable defender.
Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips might be available on the trade market. The third-year defender is 24 years old and started two of last year’s 16 games he appeared in. His 409 defensive snaps at outside cornerback were solid, but he’s stuck on the depth chart.
One of those guys, or one of free agents Mike Hilton and Stephon Gilmore should arrive in Minnesota to bolster the unit.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.