What to expect from new Vikings cornerback Bashaud Breeland
By Adam Carlson
What should be expected of cornerback Bashaud Breeland now that he has joined the Minnesota Vikings?
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t fooling around when it comes to their secondary. After struggling with depth due to injuries in 2020, the team loaded up on the position by bringing in All-Pro defender Patrick Peterson and followed that up by signing Bashaud Breeland, a member of the Super Bowl LIV championship defense.
Breeland was one of the most coveted free agents remaining in the league’s talent pool and it was no secret that the seven-season veteran wanted to return to the Kansas City Chiefs. When that didn’t seem like a possibility, the Vikings struck and were able to acquire his services.
The deal made between Breeland and the Vikings is a one-year contract worth up to $4 million. Normally, the services of a starting-caliber cornerback would well exceed that price, but players are setting themselves up for a big payday next offseason when the salary cap rebounds from a COVID-19 related slump.
Even if Breeland doesn’t get another deal from Minnesota next year, the defensive back will be still be fighting for a starting job on the team’s roster this season. But what does that mean for the Vikings?
Let’s take a look at the good and bad things he has to offer as well as some expectations for the upcoming season.