The Minnesota Vikings exceeded expectations in 2024, making a postseason run despite losing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending injury. They’ve also earned praise for their 2025 draft, receiving a “B” grade from NFL analyst Chad Reuter, who noted the team’s choice to bolster the offensive line in Round 1 by selecting guard Cooper Jackson over available defensive backs.
Reuter explained that the grade wasn’t higher because the Vikings passed on strong defensive options, including a chance to shore up their secondary. Instead, they opted for offensive talent like wide receiver Trey Felton, who’s expected to ease the burden on stars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Now, with the draft behind them, experts are turning their focus to the team’s biggest remaining hole—and there’s growing consensus around one position: cornerback.
In a May 8 article for PFF, Trevor Sikkema identified cornerback as Minnesota’s most glaring need heading into the summer. “The 2025 NFL Draft was one of the last major chances to patch roster holes,” Sikkema wrote, noting the Vikings lost over 1,000 coverage snaps following the departures of veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin. The team will now rely heavily on Isaiah Rodgers—who earned a 70.5 PFF coverage grade with the Eagles—and Mekhi Blackmon, who’s returning from an ACL injury.
That concern is echoed by ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, who also named cornerback as Minnesota’s top roster weakness post-draft. While Byron Murphy Jr. is returning after a standout season, Schatz notes that depth is thin beyond him. The Vikings’ projected starters currently include Blackmon, who struggled as a rookie in 2023 and missed all of last season, and Rodgers, who has limited starting experience.
Behind them are former first-rounder Jeff Okudah, who barely saw the field in Houston last year, and Tavierre Thomas, a 29-year-old slot corner who had minimal snaps with Tampa Bay.
Unless the Vikings add a solid cornerback soon, the secondary may become a major vulnerability in an otherwise promising 2025 campaign.
Leave a Reply