Free Agent Rumors: Vikings Interested in Alterraun Verner

Sep 15, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner (20) celebrates returning an interception for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half at Reliant Stadium. The Texans won 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Vikings really interested in Titans cornerback Alerraun Verner or is that just wishful thinking?

According to Doogie, the Vikings really are interested in Verner. Officially.

The legal tampering window opened Saturday at 11 AM, and Rick Spielman for all we know is already on the phone hashing out the parameters of a deal with Verner that can’t be finalized or announced until Tuesday.

Oh, and these parameters must be worked out without the team talking to the player at all.

The Vikings certainly don’t need to speak to Verner or watch him work out to know what he brings. Their new DB coach Jerry Gray was Verner’s DC in Tennessee, so he has all the vital information.

Verner is viewed as one of the top free agent cornerbacks on the market, so he won’t come cheap. If the Vikings do pursue Verner, it will mean setting aside their stated organizational philosophy of not spending big.

Of course that stated organizational philosophy could just be a bunch of Spielman double-talk to keep fans off his back if he tries to go after a big-ticket free agent and fails.

Verner is certainly someone who intrigues fans, and if the Vikings are smart, he will intrigue them too. You can mess around with rookies at a lot of positions but cornerback is one place where it helps to have experience.

Right now the Vikings have second year man Xavier Rhodes lined up as a starter, and not much behind him. Signing a veteran starting-level cornerback would seem almost a life-or-death necessity.

Whether you need to go really expensive like Verner or can settle for a lower-cost guy, well that’s a discussion to have. Reportedly, the Vikings are at least interested in Verner. So that’s a start.

Verner was ranked 12th overall among cornerbacks by PFF last season, when he allowed just a 55.8 QB rating on throws into his coverage.

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