Trade Idea Hits Vikings Rumor Mill
The Minnesota Vikings enter the summer with some uncertainties. At the top of the list, of course, is first-year starter J.J. McCarthy at the quarterback spot. If he’s ready for the bright lights, the club is in a good spot; if he’s not, the season won’t be as fun as last year’s. Other issues include the secondary with only one experienced starter at the cornerback position.
Vikings Secondary Could Get a Boost Via Trade
Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and expected CB2 Isaiah Rodgers are the next three men behind Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr.
If the Vikings feel like they are a guy short, they could still find a few corners in the free agency market, although those are generally older players with an injury history. Another option could be the trade market. With Jalen Ramsey now being dealt, Tariq Woolen could be the other big name to watch.
Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports, thinks Greg Newsome to the Vikings makes sense. Newsome, a once-promising draftee of the Cleveland Browns, hasn’t had too much success under the current defensive coaching staff. A fresh start could be in his best interest.
Benjamin wrote: “Why it makes sense: Minnesota spent big to address both trenches this offseason, but the one non-quarterback spot that lacks top-end answers is the secondary, now sans veteran starters like Stephon Gilmore and Camryn Bynum. Forward-thinking general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the Browns’ front office when Cleveland spent a first-rounder on Newsome in 2021, and at just 25, the former Northwestern standout has the upside to become a longer-term option for Brian Flores’ defense. Why would the Browns give up such a young chess piece? Despite his draft reputation, Newsome managed just three starts in Jim Schwartz’s unit in 2024, and he’s headed into a contract year.”
The Kwesi connection is intriguing, and so is adding a 25-year-old former first-rounder. Newsome was a highly touted prospect in 2021 and ended up with the Cleveland Browns. He immediately earned a starting spot next to Denzel Ward. Since then, he has played in 54 games with the Browns, starting 42 of them. Last year, he lost his starting job.
More from Benjamin: “Potential holdups: The Vikings paid top dollar to retain Byron Murphy Jr. at one cornerback spot, and they might just be comfortable rolling with bargain additions like Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah down the depth chart. And the Browns, while perpetually rebuilding, might want to stash Newsome as insurance; after all, how many other young building blocks do they have?”
The Browns are a mess, and they might really want to keep their few younger players. Yet, Newsome was benched last year, and neither standout defender Ward nor 24-year-old Martin Emerson, who took the job, are going anywhere anytime soon. Loading up on draft picks could be a decent move for a team without much cap flexibility and seemingly entering another rebuild.
Here’s Newsome II’s Pro Football Focus summary since 2021:
- 2021: 68.1
- 2022: 69.1
- 2023: 66.0
- 2024: 52.2
His grade noticeably dropped last year; perhaps Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores could revive that. It’s worth mentioning, though, that the entire Browns organization had a down year, and the grade might not mean much whatsoever.
For all we know, the Vikings are satisfied with their cornerback group, which is why they haven’t made any major moves since March. Until further notice, it’ll be Murphy Jr. and Rodgers in base packages, with either Okudah or Blackmon joining in nickel. Dark horse contenders for jobs are Ambry Thomas, who had a reasonable role on the juggernaut 49ers teams from the early 2020s. Undrafted sophomore and preseason standout, Dwight McGlothern, also wants to clinch a job in his second campaign.
Newsome is an option if the decision-makers want to add another guy.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.