On Wednesday, all of the excitement that surrounded the Minnesota Vikings holding their first full-team practice of their 2024 training camp quickly disappeared when it was revealed that second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon has already suffered a season-ending injury.
Blackmon left Wednesday's injury with a knee injury, and a few hours later, it was revealed that he suffered a torn ACL, which will keep him on the sideline for the entire 2024 season.
With Blackmon expected to get a bunch of time on the field in 2024 as one of the Vikings' top-three cornerbacks, his injury is definitely going to be a difficult one for the team's secondary to overcome. However, there's a certain veteran corner who is still a free agent that could potentially be the perfect replacement for the injured defensive back on Minnesota's 2024 roster.
Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore is the perfect replacement for Minnesota Vikings CB Mekhi Blackmon
Currently, the Vikings have a little more than $21 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. That should be more than enough money for Minnesota to sign almost any free-agent cornerback they would like if that's something they are interested in doing to help replace Blackmon.
It should definitely be enough to sign All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore, who is still available in free agency after spending the 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
In 17 games with the Cowboys last year, Gilmore accumulated 68 tackles, 13 pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. When the ball was tossed in his direction in 2023, opposing quarterbacks only completed 55.8 percent of their throws, and they generated a passer rating of just 82.7.
Gilmore is at the tail-end of his career as he will turn 34 in September, but he still has plenty of juice left in the tank. Last season, he finished with the second-highest PFF defensive grade among all Dallas cornerbacks, and in 2022, he finished with the ninth-highest PFF defensive grade among all corners in the entire NFL.
It also wouldn't take Gilmore long to adjust to Minnesota's defensive scheme, as he worked with current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in the past when the two were both members of the New England Patriots in 2017 and 2018.
With Dallas last season, Gilmore was paid $10.98 million, and Spotrac.com views his current market value at $9 million per year. Both amounts are more than affordable for the Vikings, especially if they believe he can help make up for the loss of Blackmon.