At the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings faced criticism and questions surrounding their secondary.
The Vikings made five selections during the draft, with none being at cornerback or safety. This was a different direction from where most mock drafts had been, as Minnesota was expected to select a cornerback or safety within one of their selections.
There is more clarity on the plan for the Vikings, now that they have gotten through the draft.
How the Minnesota Vikings plan to address the cornerback position in 2025
Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Ben Goessling appeared on KFXN-FM radio on Tuesday as Paul Allen asked him about why the Vikings didn't select a cornerback in the draft.
Goessling gave an educated guess that they might not have had the players they wanted in the draft and isn't counting out the possibility of signing a cornerback in free agency.
"Well, I think probably some of it is how the board fell. I think there is still possibilities and different things. People keep mentioning Asante Samuel [Jr.], but now we are past that point, whether it's him or anyone else, that if you sign a free agent, it no longer affects the comp picks.
So all of this question of 'what are they waiting to do?' That's no longer an issue as of 3 p.m. [Monday], that is no longer an issue. So they could still make a move to bring somebody in."
Samuel Jr. is one of the big-name free agents still available after four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, but a shoulder injury cost him all but four games last year. Other notable free agent cornerbacks still available include Rasul Douglas and former Viking Stephon Gilmore.
The Vikings addressed the cornerback position this offseason by signing notable names such as Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. Goessling mentioned to watch out for Rodgers to be leaned on as one of the top cornerbacks alongside Byron Murphy Jr..
"They're also excited about Isaiah Rodgers to a degree that's surprised me a little, in my amateur reading of things. I didn't think he was going to come in and be as big of a factor as Kevin O'Connell talked about him being at the owner's meetings."
O'Connell expressed during the owner's meetings that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was high on Rodgers. That leaves the possibility of Rodgers being one of the two main starters in the secondary high after his Super Bowl run with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
The secondary can still be addressed, but if it is left the way it is, it might end up being one of the biggest question marks for the team entering the new season.