The media is very focused on the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota Vikingsare searching for a top quarterback, but they also need to deal with the cornerback position this offseason.
As it turns out Stephon Gilmore, who has been one of the best in the NFL for years, is available after the first week of free agency. David Kenyon of Bleacher Report suggested that the Vikings are a great fit for Gilmore this upcoming season.
The veteran cornerback has been consistently great at each stop, most recently for the Dallas Cowboys. He yielded 6.9 yards per target and a passer rating of only 82.7 in 2023, ending the season with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions, per Pro Football Focus.
Dallas should consider keeping him, although the return of Trevon Diggs after DaRon Bland’s breakout year complicates that picture.
Beyond the Cowboys, any number of corner-needy defenses should be talking to Gilmore. Detroit is in the process of overhauling its cornerbacks room, and the Minnesota Vikings could use a veteran at the position after ranking 24th against the pass last year.
It's expected that signing Stephon Gilmore in free agency will cost more than $12 million.
GettyDallas Cowboys player Stephon Gilmore became a free agent in March 2024.
Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler, is a 12-year veteran who will be 34 in the upcoming season. Despite his age, he played at a very high level during his time with the Cowboys in 2023.
He was paid $20 million in total in Dallas and is projected to be valued at $11.2 million over a new one-year deal. As of Saturday, Minnesota had about $17 million in available salary cap space for the 2024 campaign. The Vikings need to focus on their secondary before the 2024 season. Byron Murphy Jr. did not meet expectations in his first year with the team in 2023. The Vikings have been trying for years to improve their secondary through the draft and free agency.
They selected Mekhi Blackmon in the 2023 NFL draft and also paid Byron Murphy Jr. $17.5 million in free agency. Blackmon had a decent rookie year, starting three games and making 8 pass deflections, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception. Despite having a good history with the Arizona Cardinals, Murphy struggled and was ranked 87th out of 127 cornerbacks in his position.
On the Vikings' roster is
GettyAkayleb Evans
, a fourth-round pick in 2022 who started alongside Murphy last season when healthy. Andrew Booth Jr. , a second-round pick in 2022, played in a backup role alongside Blackmon last year but did not perform as expected due to injury. Gilmore should do well under defensive coordinator Brian Flores' aggressive defensive scheme, which uses a variety of unique zone coverages. a total of He has been a top-level cornerback at every stop in his NFL career, which included time with the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, and Cowboys. The media is highly focused on the Minnesota Vikings’ search for a franchise QB, but they also need to address the CB position this offseason.
Blackmon was solid in a minimal role during his rookie campaign, starting three games and tallying 8 pass deflections, 3 tackles for loss and an interception, per Pro Football Reference. Murphy was less successful despite a solid track record with the Arizona Cardinals, finishing ranked 87th out of 127 cornerbacks who saw enough snaps at the position to qualify.
Also on the Vikings roster is Akayleb Evans, a fourth-round pick in 2022 who started alongside Murphy last season when healthy. Andrew Booth Jr., a second-round selection in 2022, played in a backup role alongside Blackmon last year but has failed to live up to his draft position. He missed 11 regular-season games as a rookie due to injury.
Gilmore should be successful under defensive coordinator Brian Flores‘ blitz-heavy scheme, which employs a variety of unique zone coverages behind it. He has been an elite-level cornerback at every stop over the course of his NFL career, which has included stints with the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Cowboys.
