Vikings Corner Gets the Yo-Yo Treatment
At first, there was the decision to axe Vikings corner Dwight McGlothern. Doing so came out of nowhere, lessening the depth at a pivotal position.
Most recently, there was the decision to welcome the defensive back into Minnesota’s orbit. A practice squad spot was cleared out by releasing running back Cam Akers. McGlothern got shoehorned into the opening. As the Week 12 game arrived, McGlothern — affectionately known as “Nudie” — got elevated for the Packers game. The corner would be forgiven if the up-and-down nature of recent days leaves him feeling like a yo-yo.
Vikings Corner Dwight McGlothern on a Wild Ride
Nobody can conclude that Minnesota has been good enough.
Consider, for instance, CB1 Byron Murphy Jr., a defender who earned a hearty three-year, $54 million deal in March. A normal season involves the corner plucking several interceptions out of the sky — think 2 or 3 — alongside seeing the passes defended hit 10 before climbing higher.
In 2025, Mr. Murphy is sitting on a goose egg for interceptions. There have been 3 passes defended, well short of his normal disruptiveness.
So, not good enough.
Minnesota has had solid but not spectacular play from CB2 Isaiah Rodgers. CB3 Fabian Moreau is a sturdy option, someone who likely would be better served in a CB4 or CB5 role. He has, however, proven to be reasonably solid.
But then there’s Dwight McGlothern.
The UDFA option from 2024 has inspired optimism aplenty due to cracking the 53-man roster as a rookie and sophomore. Partner making the roster with being someone who stands at 6’2″ — defensive coaches love long-and-strong outside corners — and the appeal is obvious. Plus, he’s only 23, meaning he has potential and upside.
But then Minnesota has been reluctant to play the young fella. He earned just 19 defensive snaps as a rookie. That was easy to explain away in a year when the Vikings climbed up to a 13-4 record. The corner cluster in that season did quite well. Veterans Murphy, Moreau, Stephon Gilmore, and Shaq Griffin all earned beefier playing time.
Moving into 2025, the Vikings appeared open to creating room for McGlothern to play more.
Gone are Gilmore and Griffin. Moreau got brought back, but his initial assignment was on the practice squad. Young corner Mekhi Blackmon got traded away.
In the end, September arrived with Minnesota holstering CB1 Murphy, CB2 Rodgers, CB3 Jeff Okudah, and CB4 McGlothern. In theory, that was a setup that leaned toward seeing the undrafted sophomore play.
After all, Okudah had mostly been a draft bust who struggled to stay healthy. Foreseeing a future where McGlothern could soak up snaps from within that roster setting was plausible, if not downright likely.
Tally up the opportunities and Dwight McGlothern has been on the field for 31 snaps on defense. There have been 16 snaps on special teams. The young Vikings corner didn’t earn any playing time in Week 12, further creating confusion for why Minnesota keeps leaning on a player who doesn’t help on defense or specials.
Dwight McGlothern, 23, comes in at 6’2″ and weighs 185 pounds. He ran a 4.46 forty. The Vikings could have found a diamond in the rough when signing him. It’s difficult to know, though, absent playing time.
Next up is a Seahawks game in Week 13. Somehow slowing down Seattle’s WR1, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is easier said than down. He leads the NFL with 1,313 yards for an astronomical 119.4 yards per game (at his best, Justin Jefferson averaged 107.4 yards per game).
We’ll see if Mr. McGlothern gets elevated from the practice squad yet again.
