Stephen Lew-Imagn Photographs.
Right here’s a small secret concerning the Minnesota Vikings this offseason: the membership wants cornerbacks.
Bleacher Report Names “Perfect” Free Agent for Vikings
Because it stands in late February, solely Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern are hooked up to the 2025 roster as probably playable corners, that means the upcoming free company interval, plus the draft in April, will doubtless function the acquisition of extra.
And look no additional than Paulson Adebo, says Bleacher Report. BR’s Gary Davenport named a “perfect” free-agent match for every NFL crew this week, and for the Vikings, Adebo, a New Orleans Saint, received the nod.
“The Lions and Packers aren’t the only NFC North team that needs help in the secondary. Minnesota was 28th in the NFL in pass defense last year and has a number of corners, including Murphy, about to hit the open market,” Davenport defined.
The Vikings might ease the CB fears within the subsequent two weeks by re-signing Murphy Jr., a Professional Bowler, after which normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would actually solely want yet one more starter — which could possibly be Adebo if Davenport has it proper.
Stephen Lew-Imagn Photographs.
He added, “The Vikings have cash to play with in free agency: over $63 million. But the team also needs quantity almost as much as quality. Adebo shouldn’t break the bank, and the 25-year-old logged three interceptions in just seven games last year before a broken leg ended his season.”
Due to the fractured leg, Adebo’s price ticket in free company gained’t be fairly as excessive as others, like New York Jets defender D.J. Reed, for instance. Adebo would match the Adofo-Mensah mould of shopping for at a reduction due to harm fears, a observe he utilized final offseason with outdoors linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.
Right here’s Adebo’s Professional Soccer Focus resume to this point:
2024: 63.3
2023: 78.6
2022: 49.1
2021: 60.3
When wholesome, Adebo focuses on sticky cross protection, aggression, and a just lately improved tackling acumen. His run protection is perhaps described as one weak point by the primary 4 seasons of his profession.
If the Vikings miss out on Murphy Jr. and will not be fascinated about Adebo, these veteran corners are scheduled to hit the open market in 12 days:
D.J. Reed
Charvarius Ward
Asante Samuel Jr.
Rasul Douglas
And one or two of those rookies would possibly do the trick:
Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)
Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)
Jahdae Barron (Texas)
Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State)
Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
The Vikings have over $60 million in cap area to spend on cornerbacks and different free brokers.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photographs.
Adebo will flip 26 this summer season.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data supplied by OverTheCap.com.
