Vikings free agency 2017: What cornerbacks are available?
By Adam Patrick
What players available this offseason have the best chance at joining the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive backfield in 2017?
Three years after he was hired, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has successfully transformed the team’s once embarrassing secondary into one of the best pass defenses the NFL has to offer.
In the season before Zimmer was brought on (2013), the Vikings’ defense was the second worst in the league when it came to average passing yards allowed per game. Fast forward to 2016 and Minnesota is home to the NFL’s third best pass defense.
Much of their improvement can be attributed to the tutelage of Zimmer, the progression of cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and the veteran leadership of cornerbacks Terence Newman and Captain Munnerlyn.
But Newman and Munnerlyn are free-agents this offseason and there is a good possibility that at least one of them will not be returning to the Vikings’ roster in 2017. As of right now, Minnesota’s three best corners consist of Rhodes and the inexperienced duo of Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander.
The Vikings could decide to add another player or two to this group in the draft. But Zimmer likes to keep the experience level high in his defensive backfield so bringing in a new corner via free agency seems like the route that is more probable for Minnesota this offseason.
Which current free-agent cornerbacks have the best potential to sign on and become a part of the Vikings’ defense in 2017?