Vikings Give Unemployed Rookie CB a Look
Of the 91 players employed by the Minnesota Vikings, 90 are eligible to practice. Only rookie tight end Gavin Bartholomew is stuck on the PUP list with an injury. Of course, some guys are sidelined by minor injuries, like Justin Jefferson with his hamstring strain.
Vikings Give Unemployed Rookie CB a Look
The roster has reached the 90-man limit (plus punter Oscar Chapman, who doesn’t count against the roster limit due to the International Pathway Program), but the front office is always looking for ways to improve the squad.
On Tuesday, the club hosted Zy Alexander for a visit, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who’s constantly monitoring the league’s transaction wire. The undrafted rookie was surprisingly cut by the Seattle Seahawks just before the beginning of training camp after being placed on the NFI list.
Alexander was a promising defender entering the draft. He spent three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to LSU for two seasons. In those two campaigns at LSU, Alexander logged 77 tackles, one sack, and four interceptions despite missing some time in 2023 due to a torn ACL.
The young athlete had an excellent bounce-back season in 2024. Of 46 targets going his way, he allowed only 20 to be caught for 204 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He allowed a passer rating of 53.2, which is only a little better than just throwing the ball away each play.
He has the ball production and the size to be a decent NFL corner. Draft scout Lance Zierlein projected him to be a fifth-rounder.
He wrote, “Alexander utilizes size, speed, length and athleticism through all phases of coverage. He’s not overly disruptive from press but rarely allows much separation if beaten. He leverages routes with pattern recognition and maintains connection to the route from trail. He’s effective from man and zone with timing and tracking that could make him a coveted prospect for defenses with heavy Cover 3 looks. Alexander’s tools and traits give him a chance to become a starter.”
The Vikings love to hire young and promising cornerbacks. Last year, Dwight McGlothern made some noise in the preseason and in camp, and he has done a nice job in this year’s camp, too. Zemaiah Vaughn could be another undrafted gem for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Vikings.
Bleacher Report wrote about Alexander ahead of the draft: “Zy Alexander projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a starting outside cornerback in multiple schemes. His size, length, and ability to blanket receivers downfield give him a high ceiling, particularly against larger wideouts. While his susceptibility to elite speed and some technical inconsistencies may sometimes show up. Alexander’s competitive nature and ball skills make him a valuable addition to an NFL secondary. With refinement and experience, he has the tools to become a reliable starter at the next level.”
Ironically, their pro comparison was Cam Dantzler, who had a hot rookie season, but found himself in the doghouse of various coordinators. He’s currently looking for a job after playing decent football in the UFL.
There are undoubtedly some similarities between the two, especially their body types. Both Dantzler and Alexander are tall but lean cornerbacks, with disappointing 40-yard times.
Even funnier is that PFF compared him to departed Viking Cam Bynum, envisioning a potential switch from cornerback to safety in his future.
Alexander left without a deal, but often, players who visit sign later, especially in the preseason when a roster spot opens due to an injury.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.