The Minnesota Vikings have mostly young talent and question marks in the secondary but some certainty is available to them on the open market.
The entrance of new defensive coordinator Brian Flores necessitates upgrades to the defensive backfield in Minnesota almost as much as do the statistics, which saw the Vikings finish among the league’s worst teams in passing yards surrendered. The upcoming NFL Draft offers Minnesota a chance to improve the unit, as does free agency.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report on Wednesday, March 8, dubbed the addition of New England Patriots cornerback Jonathon Jones a “realistic dream signing” for the Vikings as soon as franchises can begin negotiating with players on March 15.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jonathan Jones would give the Vikings a younger option than [Patrick] Peterson coming off a strong year. The seven-year vet spent most of his time in the slot before becoming a full-time starter on the outside last year. He rewarded the Patriots’ faith in him with 16 starts, four interceptions and just 6.5 yards allowed per target.
His ability to play inside or out and give the Vikings a reliable veteran option would make him the ideal signing. The Vikes have to carve out some cap space, but they should benefit from a relatively deep [free agent] cornerback class headlined by James Bradberry and Jamel Dean.
Vikings Can Pair Jonathon Jones With Patrick Peterson in Secondary
GettyCornerback Patrick Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
While Ballentine pitched Jones as a potential replacement for Peterson — who was the Vikings best cornerback by a mile in 2022 — perhaps a better option is to pair the two together.
Flores and the Vikings want Peterson back next season, per a report from Darren Wolfson of KSTP on SKOR North’s Mackey and Judd last Monday. Peterson has been vocal over the past couple of months about his willingness and desire to continue playing for the Vikings, which should make negotiations simpler as long as both sides show a willingness to meet in the middle.
Furthermore, Minnesota’s …read more
Source:: Heavy.com