Still only 32-years-old, would it be a good idea for the Minnesota Vikings to see if the former All-Pro cornerback is worth a roster spot?
Before “Rhodes Closed” there was “Revis Island”. Prior to Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes becoming one of the best at his position in the NFL, Darrelle Revis was who every young corner (like Rhodes) aspired to be like.
Just five seasons into his pro career, Revis had already been named a First-Team All-Pro three times. Opposing quarterbacks hated throwing in his direction.
It seems like forever ago that Revis was dominating on the field and shutting down some of the top receivers in the league, but the veteran corner is still only 32-years-old. Compared to Terence Newman (he will be 40 in September), Revis is basically a newborn baby.
He did make the Pro Bowl in 2015, but his last two years in the NFL definitely have not been his best.
In 2016 with the New York Jets, Revis struggled and ended up ranked as Bleacher Report’s 34th-best corner in the league. Last season, Revis only appeared in five games as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and didn’t resemble anything really close to the player he once was.
After his disappointing stint with them in 2017, the Chiefs released the veteran corner in February. But prior to his departure from Kansas City, Revis did say that he would like to continue playing in 2018.
Now a free-agent, could a roster spot with the Minnesota Vikings be in his future?
Minnesota Vikings
Since they came to the Vikings in 2014, the tandem of head coach Mike Zimmer and defensive backs coach Jerry Gray has turned Minnesota’s pass defense into one of the best in the entire NFL. They have continued to find ways to get the most out of guys like Rhodes, Newman, Trae Waynes, and Captain Munnerlyn.
Who’s to say Zimmer and Gray can’t do the same for Revis?
The Vikings’ pass defense runs a mix of zone and press coverage out on the field, so the free-agent corner should not have that tough a time catching on. Plus, if they bring in Revis sooner than later, he will have an entire offseason to train with the team and learn the defense, unlike his experience with the Chiefs in 2017.
Would Minnesota bring him in to be a starter? Probably not, but Newman is a free-agent this offseason and he’s not getting any younger. Signing Revis instead of bringing back Newman would still keep the veteran presence alive in the Vikings’ defensive backfield
Next: Which remaining 2018 free-agents could the Vikings sign?
At the very least, Minnesota should consider bringing Revis in for a workout this offseason and see if he would be worth taking a shot on.