Vikings listed as top trade destination for Patriots All-Pro cornerback

Could the Minnesota Vikings be interested in making a trade for current New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore?

During the last few months, the Minnesota Vikings have spent the majority of their resources on players that could help their defense make some drastic improvements next season.

After last year’s disappointing performance by the defense, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and the team’s front office have been going above and beyond to avoid a similar outcome for the unit in 2021.

Minnesota has added new faces to every level of the defense, but a good amount of these new additions have been guys who line up as cornerbacks for a living. And even with 11 corners currently on their roster, the Vikings are still probably looking for ways to improve the position group before the start of the 2021 season.

Should the Minnesota Vikings attempt to trade for New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore?

Despite Minnesota adding experienced veteran cornerbacks to their roster this year like Patrick Peterson, Bashaud Breeland, and Mackensie Alexander, it’s hard to imagine Zimmer wouldn’t be interested in acquiring another All-Pro corner this offseason if the opportunity was presented to the Vikings.

This might actually be a possibility for Minnesota when it comes to New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Rumors about the Patriots potentially trading Gilmore sooner than later have been picking up recently and the Vikings are one of the teams that have been listed as a possible destination for the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year.

When recently listing the three best trade partners for New England if they’re looking to send Gilmore elsewhere, Musket Fire’s Mike Luciano has Minnesota in the No. 1 spot. With Zimmer’s history in coaching some of the top defensive backs to ever play in the NFL, Luciano believes the Vikings would be a great fit for the Patriots corner.

"“Not only is Mike Zimmer a defensive head coach, but he is a guy who made his name coaching some of the best defensive backs in the game with the Cowboys in the ’90s. If anyone knows both what a great cornerback can do for his team and how to get the most out of said cornerback, it’s Zim.The Vikings have plenty of picks to give to New England in return, and they might need to surrender those picks up to take control of the division.”"

Now, cornerback is no longer a huge need for Minnesota this year after adding Peterson, Breeland, and Alexander. But adding a guy like Gilmore could help the Vikings emerge as a legit contender in the NFC.

The 30-year-old corner was still among the best cover-guys in the NFL last season, allowing a completion rate of just 57.1 percent and an opposing passer rating of only 75.7.

Obviously, it will depend on what New England is asking for in return for Gilmore. With only one year left on his current contract, the Vikings would have to decide if letting go of an early-round draft pick to acquire a guy who could sign elsewhere in 2022 would be worth it.

Some might believe Minnesota isn’t in the running to trade for Gilmore. But as long as Zimmer is the guy leading the charge for the Vikings, anything that involves adding another talented corner to the roster can’t be brushed aside.