7 free-agent cornerbacks the Vikings could sign in 2023
By Chris Schad
Eric Rowe
2022 Team: Miami Dolphins
Whenever a coach changes teams, one of the first moves is to find players that are familiar with his scheme. While Kevin O’Connell used that to bring in Johnny Mundt as an extra tight end, Brian Flores could find his own pupil on the defensive side in Eric Rowe.
Rowe has played in the NFL for eight seasons, but six of them have been played under Flores. A second-round pick in the 2015 draft, Rowe began his career as a cornerback but shifted into a safety hybrid role, where he’s found most of his success.
A two-time Super Bowl champion, Rowe can add some veteran smarts to the cornerback room and fill in as a slot corner if needed. Rowe also is a strong tackler, notching 163 total tackles in three seasons under Flores from 2019 to 2021.
You could make the argument that the Vikings could have an even cheaper solution if they decided to take fellow defensive back hybrid Brian Branch in the first round of the draft. But with Over The Cap projecting his next contract to be under $1 million, he could be a cost-effective addition.