Free Agent No. 5
L’Jarius Sneed - CB (Kansas City Chiefs)
Of all the available free agents on the market, L’Jarius Sneed is the player the Vikings brass should do whatever it takes to sign. The current state of the cornerback room is in shambles.
While Byron Murphy, Jr. has had his ups and downs this season, there is no doubt that he is the best cornerback currently on Minnesota's roster.
Akayleb Evans, on the other hand, has regressed since last season when he was healthy and on the field. In the last two weeks, he has been benched twice by Brian Flores.
Minnesota needs a top-tier, No. 1 lockdown corner who thrives in man coverage - someone that Flores can trust to be left alone against opposing offenses' best receivers. The best corner that will be available in the free agent market is Sneed.
Sneed, much like Antoine Winfield Jr., was a huge Pro Bowl snub this season and will undoubtedly be considered for an All-Pro selection. Sneed has been one of, if not the best, corners in football in 2023. He has consistently gone up against every offense's No. 1 receiver and has held his own.
Sneed has established himself as a legitimate No. 1 corner in Kansas City and the entire NFL. He is precisely the type of corner that the Vikings' defense needs - someone they can count on to win one-on-one battles, which has been a significant challenge for the team's current batch of cornerbacks.
Sneed is versatile and can line up on the edge to blitz the quarterback. Additionally, he is an excellent tackler in open space, which is an area where Minnesota's corners have struggled in recent weeks.
If the Vikings are serious about competing in 2024, they must invest in a player like Sneed.