No Team's Cornerback Battle is More Interesting Than the Vikings'

All eyes will be on the cornerbacks when the Vikings begin training camp at TCO Performance Center this year. It's a totally overhauled group; each of the top four snap leaders from last season are gone, and they've been replaced by a mix of free agents and rookies looking to make an impact in their new home.

Looking around the league, no other team has a cornerback battle with this level of intrigue and importance. Pro Football Focus agrees. There are at least five or six corners on the Vikings' roster with a realistic shot to see the field early this season, and what kind of play the team gets from that position could go a long way in determining the overall success of Brian Flores' defense.

Gone are Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, Duke Shelley, and Cameron Dantzler, the four snap leaders at CB on last year's Ed Donatell-coached defense. Peterson and Shelley had excellent seasons on a bad defense; Sullivan and Dantzler were mediocre.

In are Byron Murphy Jr., Mekhi Blackmon, Joejuan Williams, Jay Ward, John Reid, and three undrafted rookies. Reid, a slot corner on his fourth team in four seasons, is the only player in the room older than 25.

Here's a quick look at the entire group, split into tiers.

Tier 1: The Alpha

Byron Murphy Jr.

The Vikings' marquee free agent signing this offseason, Murphy is a former second-round pick who spent four seasons with the Cardinals. He has 48 career starts to his name, can play inside and outside, and is still just 25 years old. Murphy, who missed time with a back injury last season, is excited about the opportunity to prove himself again in this new situation. He's the clear leader of this room and an every-down player for Flores.

Tier 2: The Other Projected Starters

Akayleb Evans
Mekhi Blackmon

Based on what we saw at OTAs and minicamp, these are the current frontrunners to join Murphy in the starting lineup when the Vikings are in nickel. Evans is the team's top returning corner despite playing just 162 defensive snaps last season. The 2022 fourth-round pick out of Missouri showed impressive flashes as a rookie before concussions derailed his season. If he can stay on the field this year, big things could be in store.

He'll have to earn it in training camp, but Blackmon appears to be on track to start for the Vikings as a rookie. He's already 24 after spending six years in college and is coming off a fantastic season at USC, earning a 92.1 PFF coverage grade with three interceptions and 12 passes defended.

Tier 3: The Challengers

Andrew Booth Jr.
Joejuan Williams
Jay Ward

By my estimation, these three players are next in line, meaning they could work their way into a major role over the course of training camp. These are the guys Evans and Blackmon will have to hold off on the practice field and in preseason action to secure their starting spots.

Booth was the Vikings' second pick last year, an early-second rounder with first-round talent and an extensive injury history. The injury concerns reared their head in his rookie campaign, as he couldn't stay on the field and struggled in his 105 snaps against the Bills and Cowboys. It's hard to expect anything from Booth until he proves he can stay healthy, but the talent is still there.

Williams is an interesting reclamation project, a 2019 Patriots second-round pick who has played just over 500 defensive snaps in his career. The Vanderbilt product is massive at 6'3", 212 pounds, but he's a relative unknown with just one career start. He missed all of last season due to injury.

Then there's Ward, a fourth-round pick out of LSU this year who can play all over the secondary. The Vikings have him listed as a safety, but he'll also be in the mix at all of the cornerback spots.

Tier 4: The Rest

Tay Gowan
Kalon Barnes
John Reid
Jaylin Williams
C.J. Coldon Jr.
NaJee Thompson

These guys are all on the bubble heading into camp. A practice squad spot might be their most realistic hope, but a huge July and August could potentially get them onto the roster. Special teams are a key piece of the puzzle for all of these players.

Gowan and Barnes were on the practice squad last season. Reid, as mentioned earlier, is on his fourth team in four seasons, but he does have four career starts, which is more than anyone in this room outside of Murphy. Williams, Coldon, and Thompson were signed as undrafted free agents.

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