Vikings Named Top Spot for Veteran Free Agent
PFF has compiled a list of the best landing spots for the best available free agents, and our Minnesota Vikings made an appearance.
In a piece by Ryan Smith of PFF, every top available free agent was given their perfect home in the league. In the list of fits, with obvious ones like Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and reunions like a potential rekindling between Amari Cooper and the Dallas Cowboys, the Vikings were given the suggestion of strengthening one of the weaker positions on the defense.
The Vikings were suggested a cornerback, and it’s not Asante Samuel Jr., who has been heavily rumored to come to Minnesota for what feels like months now. It’s not even Mike Hilton, who has been brought up in some light Vikings-centric rumors as well.
It’s former Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, and Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Here’s PFF’s explanation:
Douglas is coming off a disappointing season in which he ranked 102nd out of 116 qualifying cornerbacks with a 53.9 PFF overall grade. He was strong the previous three years, earning a career-best 81.0 PFF overall grade in 2023.
The eight-year veteran has been a ballhawk in the NFL, recording at least seven pass breakups in six different seasons and picking off 14 passes from 2021-2023. Durability is a positive in Douglas’ game, as well. He has averaged 984 snaps per season since 2022.
The Vikings will need to replace Stephon Gilmore, and Douglas is a natural fit in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme. Minnesota had just five draft picks in the draft, and none were used on a defensive back, suggesting the team was confident it could address its cornerback depth through free agency.
Douglas’ best career season came in 2023, when he achieved an 82.2 PFF defensive grade, and he followed it up in 2024 with his career second-lowest season defensive grade of 59.2.
Take a look at his career PFF defensive grades:
- 2017 (PHI): 64.1
- 2018 (PHI): 69.6
- 2019 (PHI): 52.4
- 2020 (CAR): 60.2
- 2021 (GB): 74.8
- 2022 (GB): 71.1
- 2023 (GB/BUF): 82.2
- 2024 (BUF): 59.2.
And his career PFF coverage grades:
- 2017 (PHI): 67.2
- 2018 (PHI): 67.9
- 2019 (PHI): 50.2
- 2020 (CAR): 60.2
- 2021 (GB): 78.0
- 2022 (GB): 71.5
- 2023 (GB/BUF): 84.4
- 2024 (BUF): 58.9
Douglas was the 99th selection (3rd round) of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. His best ball was undoubtedly played in the middle-stages of his career with the Packers and into his time with the Buffalo Bills, and while his lows have looked quite well, his veteran and journeyman-type presence could bring a lot of value to a Vikings cornerback room full of youthful names like Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern.
It seems like a safe bet to assume that the Vikings will sign one of Rasul Douglas, Mike Hilton, or Asante Samuel Jr. You can make a good argument for each one of them, and the most-trusted data platform in football has made the case for Douglas.
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