A Peek at the Potential Bashaud Breeland Fit on the Vikings

Dustin Baker |

May 21, 2021

Dec 6, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) reacts after a defensive pass interference call during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The day was March 27th. It was the morning after Mackensie Alexander signed with the Minnesota Vikings, following one season with Bengals in Cincinnati. Alexander came home while veteran Arizona Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson inked with team two weeks prior.

The Vikings were deeper than the ocean at cornerback.

Then, stuff changed. Jeff Gladney was arrested for, what appeared to be, a nasty assault matter. Little hasn’t been leaked to the media about this ordeal since. Mike Hughes was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, capping a disappointing stint with the team after a 1st-Round draft prognosis three years ago.

Instantly after Gladney and Hughes news broke, the vibe indicated Minnesota was now skinny at cornerback. If something happens to the second-year Cameron Dantzler or Patrick Peterson — boom, the depth is teensy.

So, Mike Zimmer announced in a press conference that folks shouldn’t laugh at him because “you can never have too many corners.” Zimmer’s longstanding fasication with cornerbacks was reaffirmed and the Vikings evidently went CB shopping.

Former Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland visited the #Vikings today, per @ByNateTaylor.

Breeland in 2020:
– 72.9 PFF coverage grade
– 55.6 completion percentage allowed
– 2 INT, 9 passes defended, 1 FF

Versatile, physical seven-year veteran. Would be a big add for Minnesota.
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) May 20, 2021

There you have it — the Vikings will likely add yet another corner. Why not Breeland?

He’s a Super Bowl champion, earning his finger hardware in Super Bowl LIV when the Chiefs toppled the San Francisco 49ers. Formerly of the Washington Football Team, Green Bay Packers, and Chiefs, Breeland is a free agent — with apparent budding ties to Minnesota.

His social media footprint is outspoken:

Every team I played for threw me in the fire demanded me to play at starter level I don’t miss game for injuries I started for 3 teams in 7 years rather it was design or EARNED that way. Check the stats.
— Bashaud Breeland (@Bree2Land6) May 21, 2021

I wanna feel the love how yal want me to show my to the game. This Business is like chess I’m the king piece and yal fans are queens work the board
— Bashaud Breeland (@Bree2Land6) May 21, 2021

Breeland asked us to check the stats. Access granted.

Here are the Breeland Pro Football Focus receipts:

2014 = 48.8
2015 = 74.1
2016 = 60.5
2017 = 68.8
2018 = 58.5
2019 = 48.3
2020 = 67.7

There are 14 NFL players to snag at least one interception in each season since the start of 2014 — and Breeland is one of them (Patrick Peterson is on that list, too). The 29-year-old joined the NFL that season, 2014, from Clemson with a 4th-Round pick by Washington.

During the last three seasons, Breeland’s passer-rating-against:

2018 = 49.9
2019 = 88.7
2020 = 78.3

And that is quite commendable for a defensive back. By trade, Breeland is an outside cornerback, but he has played almost 700 career snaps in the slot — which could be where the Vikings utilize the ex-Chief.

The other key factor is that Breeland is a starting-caliber dude, at least in his opinion. It is unlikely that he’d allow a CB4 or CB5 burial to happen at this juncture of his career.

If Breeland passes on the Vikings (or vice versa), general manager Rick Spielman can still explore the free-agent candidacies of Richard Sherman, Steven Nelson, Josh Norman, Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard, or Jonathan Joseph.