Duke Shelley Might Be on the Move
Although the 2022 season didn’t end too well, it was still an entertaining season to think about. A franchise that had missed the postseason in back-to-back years suddenly jumped to 13-4 under new leadership. Games against the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts remain legendary not only in Vikings history, but they also earned their prominent place in NFL history.
Duke Shelley out of nowhere
In both of those games, cornerback Duke Shelley played a significant role. The Chicago Bears said goodbye to him ahead of the season, and the Vikings snagged him, signing him to the practice squad. A logical move considering the inexperience at cornerback besides Patrick Peterson.
Rookies Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans, as well as Cam Dantzler, suffered numerous injuries throughout the year, allowing (or rather forcing) defensive coordinator Ed Donatell to deploy Shelley in the second half of the season.
He played 12 games for the Vikings and logged six starts, including one postseason matchup. In Week 18, he caught his first interception in the NFL. Shelley recorded 31 combined tackles and defended eight passes.
According to Pro Football Focus, Shelley was the fourth-best CB in the league that season, with a coverage grade of 86.4. Opposing passers were limited to a passer rating of 59.6 when throwing in his direction.
In the game against the Bills, Shelley broke up a pass intended for tight end Dawson Knox, who is over half a foot taller, and against the Colts, he logged multiple crucial stops in the passing game, allowing the Vikings to come back.
Minnesota didn’t extend the fan favorite’s contract in the following offseason, and he moved on. Since then, he has played only 90 defensive snaps, spending time with the Raiders, Rams, Giants, and a second stint with the Vikings last offseason.
Now, he might be on the move again. The Houston Texans will try him out. Cornerback Ronald Darby retired last week, opening a spot for the defender.
Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston wrote: “The Texans are working out veteran cornerback Duke Shelley, according to league sources. The audition follows a workout Monday for Houston Roughnecks cornerback Damon Arnette, a former Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick.”
This is Houston’s CB corps:
- Myles Bryant
- Keydrain Culligan
- Alijah Huzzie
- Kamari Lassiter
- Jalen Pitre
- D’Angelo Ross
- Jaylin Smith
- Tremon Smith
- Derek Stingley Jr.
Justin Jefferson’s former college teammate, Stingley Jr., is one of the league’s top corners, and Lassiter is coming off an excellent rookie season, while Pitre is handling the slot duties.
The depth could be a problem, and the position group feels a player or two short. That’s where Shelley could play a role.
Shelley is an undersized cornerback. The Bears tried to play him in the slot, but he excelled in the Twin Cities as an outside defender, despite his size limitations. At 5’9″, Shelley is too short to play on the outside, at least on paper.
Yet, he still batted the ball away from Knox, got into a hand fight with taller wideout Chase Claypool, and took on Michael Pittman Jr. His play style can be described as feisty, and that’s how he played himself into the hearts of Skol Nation.
In Houston, he will meet various former Vikings. Most notable is edge defender Danielle Hunter, who signed a massive contract extension earlier this offseason. The club also added ex-second-rounder Irv Smith to the tight end room, signed last year’s left tackle Cam Robinson, and traded for Ed Ingram.
Since he likes to compete against taller receivers, Shelley can apply his skills in Houston. The Texans employ Nico Collins and just drafted Jayden Higgins out of Iowa State. Both are listed at 6’4″.
Shelley is 28 years old and hopes to revive his career.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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