Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores stands on the sideline in the course of the NFC wild card matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The postseason look highlighted Flores’ aggressive defensive strategy in a high-stakes atmosphere as Minnesota confronted playoff elimination on the highway. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs..
Success within the trendy NFL can’t arrive with out some sturdy air-traffic controllers. The Vikings including a nook subsequently arrives as smart choice given the significance of the place.
The staff’s social media provided up the fast replace: “The #Vikings have signed CB Jarod Washington and waived/non-football illness RB Kejon Owens.” Some perception from Craig Peters of the staff’s web site: “The Virginia native is listed at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds. In his lone season with the Bulldogs, Washington played 12 games, totaling 33 tackles (30 solo), one tackle for loss, two interceptions, 22 passes defended and a forced fumble.”
Observe a number of the added context from Judd Zulgad of SKOR North: “James Pierre didn’t practice Saturday and Isaiah Rodgers was out or limited on Thursday. Vikings needed to add at cornerback for training camp practices.”
Vikings Add a Younger Nook
Proper now, the Vikings are sitting atop a pile of nook choices. Try the lay of the land:
CB1 Byron Murphy Jr.
CB2 Isaiah Rodgers
CB3 James Pierre
CB4 Chuck Demmings
CB5 Zemaiah Vaughn
CB6 Dwight McGlothern
CB7 Marcus Allen
CB8 Da’Veawn Armstead
CB9 Tyreek Chappell
CB10 Jarod Washington
In need of some type of harm difficulty — fingers crossed that none arrive, a minimum of none which can be critical — the highest three spots are moderately safe. Particularly, Mr. Murphy isn’t going to see his taking part in time lower. He’s anyone who gives the type of particular person play that helps the staff. Coaches love that type of factor.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) takes off with the soccer after a fumble restoration and sprints into the tip zone for a defensive landing towards the Cincinnati Bengals. The rating got here on Sep. 21, 2025, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, electrifying the house crowd and swinging momentum within the first half of the matchup. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
Leaning on Rodgers and Pierre seems fairly seemingly, however Demmings is a powerful man. Can the Fifth-Spherical rookie begin stealing away snaps?
All of those questions are swirling within the air in Eagan. Younger nook Jarod Washington is a Vikings add for a secondary that’s been going by way of a tuneup.
The parents at Sports activities Illustrated provided a scouting report main into the 2026 NFL Draft. Some preliminary perception: “Jarod Washington is a cornerback with good size, strong instincts in zone coverage, and competitiveness. He shows a good closing burst, paired with adequate anticipation, to drive on underneath routes in zone coverage.”
Some negatives: “However, he lacks early acceleration and top-end speed, allowing receivers to quickly compress his cushion and stack him vertically in man coverage. He does show good recovery speed and the competitiveness to get back in phase if beaten vertically. He relies heavily on instincts in zone coverage, but can get caught staring at the quarterback.”
After which the projection: “Washington projects as a fringe NFL roster cornerback prospect who fits best in a system that allows him to trigger on underneath routes and play primarily in zone. His instincts and trigger make him an intriguing option as a late-round or post-draft priority pick-up.”
Observe that the remark about being a “priority pick-up” refers to touchdown an undrafted free agent deal. Per Peters, the Chiefs and Buccaneers introduced him in for his or her minicamps however he didn’t discover a extra lasting residence thereafter. The Vikings are subsequently giving the younger lad his first true NFL contract.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline throughout a sport towards the Chicago Bears at Soldier Discipline, on Oct 15, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois, observing defensive alignments and communication as Minnesota adjusted its protection and stress packages all through the second half of a bodily NFC North matchup. Necessary Credit score: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Photographs
Any depth man wants to know that the competitors goes past simply corners. Washington might be no completely different.
Certainly, Jarod Washington isn’t simply battling corners. That’s his most instant and apparent context, however he’s additionally doing battle with depth runners, the protection expertise, and receivers (amongst others). Why? As a result of these are the gamers who need to present they may also help on specials. Achieve an edge on a number of the depth RBs, WRs, and others of the same construct and Mr. Washington boasts a greater shot at cracking the 53-man lineup.
The Vikings add will get to work at TCO Efficiency Heart in a while at present.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. E mail: ok.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
