It could actually happen.
5-time Pro Bowler meets Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have signed five new defensive backs in the last 2.5 weeks – and they may not be done yet. According to Josina Anderson, five-time Pro Bowl corner Stephon Gilmore will speak with Vikings officials next week.
She tweeted on Saturday, just hours before Minnesota’s first preseason game: “NEWS: Free agent CB Stephon Gilmore told me he is flying out Sunday to visit the Vikings on Monday.”
The team’s reserves are a little thin in training camp after Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL and Shaquill Griffin strained his hamstring. Blackmon will miss all of 2024, and Griffin will be out week to week.
The signing of Gilmore would represent a significant change in the Vikings’ cornerback roster over the past five weeks following the tragic death of Khyree Jackson, Blackmon’s injury absence, and Andrew Booth’s trade to the Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, the purple team never stopped doing summer homework for additional cornerbacks. Earlier this month The Sporty‘S Alec Lewis claimed that Minnesota may not be done signing cornerbacks and Gilmore could be on the agenda. That statement now seems prophetic.
“The Vikings are well aware of their cornerback woes. On Monday they signed defensive back Bobby McCain, who has played the position before, and safety Jay Ward was moved to the cornerback position for the first time. On Tuesday they agreed to terms with 30-year-old cornerback Fabian Moreau, according to an NFL Network report. Moreau started 11 games for the Denver Broncos last year,” Lewis wrote a week and a half ago. “He has one thing many of the Vikings’ backup cornerbacks lack: experience. Does that preclude the signing of more cornerbacks? No. The free agent market isn’t filled with high-profile options, but Stephon Gilmore is the most interesting.”
Vikings fans have been dreaming about Gilmore for months because the man was incredibly effective last season as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Even though he turns 34 in September, he didn’t look washed up by any metric in 2023.
“He played in New England for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He’s started 33 games at cornerback over the past two seasons and his performance has been consistent. Signing him is a no-brainer, but the Vikings aren’t the only team that feels that way,” Lewis added. “Gilmore’s market will be robust, and the longer he waits, the more likely teams are to need his services. Not to mention, the longer he waits, the less time he’ll be able to spend in training camp.”
Gilmore started all 17 games for the Cowboys last year and scored a fabulous 74.4 Focus on professional football Great. If he were to sign with the Vikings – or almost any other team – that would mean five teams in five seasons for the 33-year-old.
He also posted a great 82.7 passer rating in 2023, which would have been great by Vikings cornerback standards. Currently, Minnesota has playable CBs on the roster in Byron Murphy, Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth, Duke Shelley, Fabian Moreau, and the aforementioned Griffin. Many would call Gilmore the icing on the cake of the Vikings’ offseason.
Former Vikings general manager Jeff Diamond also recommended a Gilmore-Vikings relationship. VikingTerritory Last week, Diamond said“I think the Vikings should make a serious effort – and perhaps they are doing it secretly – to sign the best cornerback available, Stephon Gilmore.”
Diamond added, “When I look at training camps, I see a lot of talent at edge rushers and safeties, and the D-line should be fine. At this point, I just don’t trust the cornerbacks other than Murphy. Adding Gilmore would improve the situation a lot.”
If current general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah does not choose Gilmore, other free agents such as Akhello Witherspoon, Adoree’ Jackson and Xavien Howard are still on the open market.
But Gilmore could be a Viking as early as Monday.
For context, these are the team’s cornerbacks before the start of the first preseason game:
CB1: Byron Murphy
CB2: Shaquill Griffin
CB3: Akayleb Evans
CB4: Fabian Moreau
CB5: Nahshon Wright
CB6: AJ Green III
CB7: Jacobi Francis
CB8: Duke Shelley
CB9: Jaylin Williams
CB10: Dwight McGlothern
CB11: NaJee Thompson (PUP)
Dustin Baker is a political scientist and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel. VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis and opinions on all things Purple Team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed secret passions: Peanut butter ice cream, “The Sopranos,” Basset Hounds and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information from OverTheCap.com.
