Post by Purple Pain on Jan 11, 2024 0:42:59 GMT -6
...5.0? 6.0?!
Is the team ever going to get this figured out?
Sam Ekstrom: How the Vikings Can Fill Their Biggest Non-Quarterback Offseason Needs
Is the team ever going to get this figured out?
Sam Ekstrom: How the Vikings Can Fill Their Biggest Non-Quarterback Offseason Needs
CORNERBACK
The Vikings schemed their way to a respectable pass defense until things fell apart in the final four weeks when opponents threw for 1,148 yards and just one interception. Byron Murphy’s knee injury seemingly exposed Minnesota’s lack of depth, which they’d hidden for much of the year with good secondary health (and a roomful of safeties willing to play in the nickel). Ultimately, Murphy finished 61st of 80 qualified corners, while Evans finished 71st, and the Vikings benched him multiple times late in the season for his reluctance to tackle. Mekhi Blackmon was a bright spot in a smaller sample size, ranking 31st of 133 corners who played 20% of snaps.
Minnesota has a positive outlook at corner with Evans, Blackmon, and Murphy back next year, along with UDFA project Jaylin Williams and former second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. They also need more assurances than the presumption their young players will improve, especially if they’re running back Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme.
Free agency option(s): Steven Nelson keeps churning out solid seasons under the radar and would be available on a modest short-term deal. He’s played 900 or more snaps in six straight years, has a career completion percentage against of 57.9, and a passer rating against of 83.8. At almost age 31, some might worry about him falling off a cliff, but his track record is impeccable. And since the Vikings didn’t really have a true slot corner this past year, how about Kenny Moore II out of Indianapolis? Slots are always more affordable, and at age 30, Moore wouldn’t come expensively. Moore has a nose for the football, with 17 career interceptions and 32 PBUs, but his tackling might be suspect.
The Vikings schemed their way to a respectable pass defense until things fell apart in the final four weeks when opponents threw for 1,148 yards and just one interception. Byron Murphy’s knee injury seemingly exposed Minnesota’s lack of depth, which they’d hidden for much of the year with good secondary health (and a roomful of safeties willing to play in the nickel). Ultimately, Murphy finished 61st of 80 qualified corners, while Evans finished 71st, and the Vikings benched him multiple times late in the season for his reluctance to tackle. Mekhi Blackmon was a bright spot in a smaller sample size, ranking 31st of 133 corners who played 20% of snaps.
Minnesota has a positive outlook at corner with Evans, Blackmon, and Murphy back next year, along with UDFA project Jaylin Williams and former second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. They also need more assurances than the presumption their young players will improve, especially if they’re running back Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme.
Free agency option(s): Steven Nelson keeps churning out solid seasons under the radar and would be available on a modest short-term deal. He’s played 900 or more snaps in six straight years, has a career completion percentage against of 57.9, and a passer rating against of 83.8. At almost age 31, some might worry about him falling off a cliff, but his track record is impeccable. And since the Vikings didn’t really have a true slot corner this past year, how about Kenny Moore II out of Indianapolis? Slots are always more affordable, and at age 30, Moore wouldn’t come expensively. Moore has a nose for the football, with 17 career interceptions and 32 PBUs, but his tackling might be suspect.
... and neither is this Chris guy.