The Minnesota Vikings are the only team with all three cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ list of top 25 CBs in the NFL. This list comes just in time for Terence Newman to likely sit the game against the Lions and for Captain Munnerlyn to be in the odd space the NFL has created with the word “questionable” on the injury report. Here’s what they had to say about the CBs:
4. Terence Newman, Minnesota Vikings, 85.9
What Terence Newman is doing in 2016 is unprecedented in the PFF era (since the 2006 season), and doesn’t seem like it should be possible. Newman is 38 years old, and is having maybe the best season of his career. Darrelle Revis is seven years younger, and Father Time is taking a severe toll on the Jets CB. Newman has allowed just 8.6 yards per reception, one touchdown, and—the most ridiculous number of all—just 23 yards after the catch all year. He has rarely been beaten in 2016, but even when he is, the receiver isn’t going much further with the ball.
14. Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings, 81.5
Xavier Rhodes has had some signature games, and none better than this past week, where he allowed a passer rating of 0.0 against Arizona, picking off QB Carson Palmer twice and bringing one back 100-yards for a touchdown that ultimately was the difference. Over the season, Rhodes has allowed a passer rating of just 31.5, the best mark in the NFL, and allowed just one touchdown—but that score cost them the game against Detroit in overtime.
23. Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota Vikings, 81.0
The Vikings become the only team to find their top three corners on this list. Captain Munnerlyn hasn’t been quite as good as Rhodes and Newman, but he has been a very good third act. Munnerlyn has solid grades in every area PFF measures, and has allowed just one touchdown from 43 targets. With it being the Vikings, he also has a QB hurry to his name on the blitz, and that came beating Giants LT Ereck Flowers for the pressure.
It should be noted that PFF doesn’t grade on a curve and the fact that Rhodes has been tasked with occasionally shadowing the biggest receiving threat means Newman’s grade is a little high while Rhodes’ grade is a little low.
With Harrison Smith as their sixth-highest graded safety (taking a big dip after an uncharacteristically poor performance in the last game against the Lions), it’s clear that the Vikings have one of the best secondaries in the league, even if no one brings them up in conversation.
