The Minnesota Vikings face a tough decision regarding their three starting cornerbacks, all of whom are set to become free agents.
Despite continuing to perform at a high level into his 30s, two-time All-Pro Stephon Gilmore may be the odd one out.
At 34, Gilmore signed a one-year deal with the Vikings during training camp after starting cornerback Mekhi Blackmon suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
The team spent several weeks assessing their cornerback depth before ultimately bringing Gilmore on board with a $7 million contract on August 18. Over his storied career, Gilmore has earned over $115 million.
Gilmore provided Minnesota with a reliable option at cornerback in a season full of uncertainties. He became a key part of the Vikings’ top-five scoring defense, logging over 900 snaps, the second-most at cornerback behind only Byron Murphy Jr.
Stephon Gilmore
However, with financial flexibility heading into the offseason, the Vikings may look to bolster the position through free agency or a high draft pick.
In a recent analysis, Sports Illustrated’s Will Ragatz assessed the Vikings’ upcoming free agents and gave Gilmore a 20% chance of returning — the lowest of any starting cornerback.
Ragatz noted, “Assuming the 34-year-old Gilmore wants to continue his NFL career in a 14th season, the likely outcome is he switches teams for a fifth straight offseason. Even with the Vikings needing help at corner, another one-year deal for Gilmore doesn’t quite fit their long-term plans.”
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