7 underrated free agents the Vikings could sign in 2020
By Dean Jones
Javien Elliott – CB
Javien Elliott showed promise with the Carolina Panthers in 2019 as the season went on and he could represent good value for the Vikings.
The undrafted cornerback made great strides during the second half of the season and he has the scope to improve even further. Elliott recorded 38 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups on a struggling Carolina defense in 2019.
He played in 40 percent of the Panthers defensive snaps last season and he raised his profile considerably in the closing stages of the campaign. Elliott covered well on the whole and an extended run on the field seems to have done his chances of a long career the world of good.
Elliott had three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before eventually making the move to Carolina on a one-year, $720,000 deal last offseason.
With three of Minnesota’s five cornerbacks from last year set to potentially depart in the coming weeks, having someone like Elliott would provide nice cover and it may even see him emerge as an eventual starter.
Former first-round pick Mike Hughes has struggled to stay healthy for the Vikings and Holton Hill is the only other cornerback on the books if Xavier Rhodes is eventually released.
A deal in the region of two years and $2.2 million might be enough for Minnesota to convince someone like Elliott to come on board and they could even add some strong incentives to further convince him to join.