The Viking Age
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Minnesota Vikings defensive players who could be traded

By Jordan Wright

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer questions cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (24) after the Chicago Bears score a touchdown in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer questions cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (24) after the Chicago Bears score a touchdown in the second quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Captain Munnerlyn is one of the better slot corners in the NFL. At age 28, Captain still has plenty left in the tank and should be able to play at a high level for many years to come.

After a year of butting heads with Mike Zimmer, Captain really turned it around in 2015, earning a 82.3 player grade by PFF, good for 18th in the league and the highest cornerback grade on the team.

Unfortunately for Munnerlyn, the Vikings have tremendous depth at cornerback with Xavier Rhodes locking down one side of the field, Terence Newman or Trae Waynes locking down the other, and Mackenzie Alexander who was drafted in the second round to play in the slot.

Captain Munnerlyn deserves to be paid like an elite slot corner, but he probably won’t get that in Minnesota. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman have done a tremendous job of acquiring depth at the cornerback position, and the plan going forward is Rhodes and Waynes on the outside with Alexander in the nickel, meaning Captain would be relegated to a backup. There are plenty of teams across the league who could use a premier nickel corner, so the Vikings might be looking to trade him instead of letting him walk next season.

Munnerlyn has a cap hit of nearly $4.6 million this season, and trading him would save the Vikings $4.25 million.

Next: Brian Robison

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