Former Vikings Corner Cameron Dantzler Continues Pushing for Next Shot
Cameron Dantzler isn’t giving up. That’s a central idea that’s been shining through if one has been following his recent social media activity.
The former Vikings corner offered a summative thought at the outset of March: “God is great man, was in a bad mental space months ago but got thru it. I appreciate everyone who never gave up on me and stood by my side. God has given me another opportunity and can’t wait to take advantage of it.”
Cameron Dantzler’s Winding Football Journey
The opportunity, presumably, is with the Memphis Showboats of the UFL. Dantzler, wearing a #13 jersey, is included in one of their promotional clips.
But while the spring league may be his current destination, Cameron Dantzler still hints about his desire for more. Alongside a clip of him jumping a route against the Saints, Dantzler writes that he’ll “be back soon.” There’s then a clip of him knocking the ball away from a receiver’s hands, prompting Dantzler to acknowledge that he’s waiting for “God’s timing.”
Piece together the various thoughts.
Dantzler continues to pursue professional football. No, he isn’t where he wants to be, but he’s opting for patience and hard work with the expectation that something will open up in the NFL down the road. One could certainly envision a scenario where an NFL team or two expresses interest in the 26-year-old defender after the 2025 NFL Draft. By that point, teams will have moved through the main three phases of player acquisition — free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency — allowing them to better gauge whether added corner competition is needed.
In football, someone’s tape is their résumé. Ideally, that tape can arrive in the NFL (or, for a youngster, within a top-tier college program). Not everyone has that luxury, though. Instead, there needs to be a willingness to prove excellence in whatever level of football where someone finds himself while continuing to push for the coveted next chance in the NFL.
Since being drafted at No. 89 back in the 2020 NFL Draft, Cameron Dantlzer has been on a wild football journey. He played with the Vikings for three seasons but then bounced around with various teams. The corner has also been employed by the Commanders, Bills, Texans, and Saints.
Minnesota’s corner position is being led by Byron Murphy Jr., a versatile veteran who was brought back during the offseason on a beefy deal (three years and $54 million). Otherwise, Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah were added to provide some competition for Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern.
Several depth options are jostling for position within the corner hierarchy, but Nahshon Wright has recently been released, meaning the competition has lost one contender.
The Vikings appear to be an option to snag a corner high in the draft (the team is going to meet with a top prospect). Getting some youthful competition into the mix would be a nice move for Minnesota. Seeing a reunion with Cameron Dantzler, though, isn’t something that’s likely.
Look for Mr. Dantlzer to get an opportunity elsewhere, possibly in time for training camp in the summer.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.