The Minnesota Vikings had an active offseason, but as training camp approaches, there's an area of concern for some and some potential options via the free agent or trade market to address it. But, on the other hand, they seem content with the construction of their cornerback depth chart, and without an injury to force the hand, an addition doesn't seem likely.
In a broader sense, the Vikings are putting a lot of (well-founded) faith in defensive coordinator Brian Flores. With the financial resources to pour into the defense, Flores clearly hand-picked edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel in 2024 free agency after the two had spent time together with the Miami Dolphins. That, as we know, worked out very well.
When the Vikings signed cornerback Isaiah Rodgers in March, he landed as a familiar-sounding name to many NFL fans. Why? Not because of his play on the field, but because he was suspended for the entire 2023 season with the Indianapolis Colts after violating the NFL's gambling policy.
But Rodgers got another shot last season, and he played quite well for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. His surface stats won't blow you away, but he was a top-25 cornerback in the league by overall PFF grade (73.2), with a top-12 run defense grade (83.4) and a top-32 coverage grade (70.5).
Anointed breakout candidate for the Minnesota Vikings will be latest Brian Flores special
With 13 career starts on his resume, and nine of those coming in one season (2022), projecting Rodgers into a starting role might feel aggressive. But that's what the Vikings are doing, and by all accounts, during offseason work, he delivered.
At the league meetings in late March, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed Flores' role in the signing of Rodgers.
"Isaiah was a guy that Flo really identified pretty early, and historically, I haven't been doing this long with Flo, but when Flo kinda has that tone in his voice about guys — I'm not gonna mention the other ones that he has had that in his voice about — but he's been pretty darn accurate.
And that guy, whether playing for us or somebody else, has immediately shown up. So no pressure on Isaiah, but he definitely got that evaluation from Flo."
After Day 1 of Minnesota's minicamp in June, Flores shared his thoughts on Rodgers.
"Isaiah's been on my radar since he was at UMass. [A] fast playmaker, [I] think he's one of these kind of late-round guys who found his way in the league in the kicking game and got in some games and made some plays.
I've always thought he was a good player and was ascending, and the opportunity presented itself that we could maybe acquire him. I was all in, and I'm happy we got him. He's been a great addition. He's got a great kind of football IQ and acumen.
...I think it's just a great addition. We talk about bringing guys in who, as far as building a synergy within the group. How does this guy mesh with [Byron Murphy Jr.] and [Harrison Smith], and [Josh Metellus]? And he's just come in and done a great job from that standpoint."
Rodgers' final year in college at UMass was 2019. That was Flores's first year as the Dolphins' head coach, which feels like a long time ago because it was.
The Athletic recently rounded up their NFL beat writers to name a breakout candidate for each team in 2025. Vikings' beat writer Alec Lewis (unsurprisingly, given his prior evaluation) tabbed Rodgers.
"It’s not that Rodgers is a complete unknown. He snatched three interceptions for the Colts in 2021, then started nine games the following season. If it weren’t for a gambling suspension that sidelined him during the 2023 season, who knows where he’d rank among cornerbacks?
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the personnel department targeted him, specifically. They believed pairing him with Byron Murphy — in a defense that allows cornerbacks to play make — will allow Rodgers to thrive. He impressed throughout the spring and is in line for major opportunities."
Much like Vikings fans should trust O'Connell when it comes to quarterbacks (i.e., J.J. McCarthy has what it takes), there has to be trust that Flores knows what he's looking for in defensive players (position-specific, of course).
If he pounded the table for Rodgers as a starting-caliber cornerback, that's plenty good enough until it's confirmed or disproved on the field.