6 potential landing spots for Xavier Rhodes after Vikings release
By Dean Jones
Detroit Lions
Staying in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions could be a realistic option for Xavier Rhodes.
The Lions’ pass defense was nothing short of terrible in 2019. They were ranked last in passing yards allowed and pairing Rhodes up with Darius Slay might improve this area of the field.
One thing that could prevent the cornerback from moving to the Lions is their high NFL Draft pick. Former Ohio State standout Jeffrey Okudah is widely considered to be the best cover corner in this year’s class and will be available for them at No.5 if they do not trade out of the spot.
They might see that as a better long-term option than Rhodes, but they might also look to add another veteran to their ranks to allow any potential draft pick time to settle in at a position that rookies normally struggle early on.
This might be a nice fit for Rhodes and would also provide him with significant motivation to turn his career around in the same division as the team who showed him the door. The player will not want his NFL career to go out with a whimper and showing Minnesota what they are missing twice a season could be an intriguing proposition if the Lions make him an offer.
Rhodes can also supply some in-house secrets to the Lions to assist them with inter-divisional matchups against the Vikings. This is also something that could come in very handy for Matt Patricia ahead of a high-pressure year for the head coach.