Something was missing from the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 draft.
Was it a backup quarterback? No, they addressed that by trading with the Seattle Seahawks for Sam Howell.
Maybe they forgot to get a tight end after Johnny Mundt signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s not it either, because they nabbed Pittsburgh’s Gavin Bartholomew with their final pick.
The team didn’t fill the crucial secondary position. In the offseason, there were questions about whether any starters would return. Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin, and Camryn Bynum were all set to be free agents, and Harrison Smith was contemplating retirement. The concern about the defensive backs was valid.
The only names that returned were Murphy, who signed a three-year, $66 million extension, and Smith, who decided to forgo his retirement for another season. That meant the Vikings needed to reload, and many mock drafts had them choosing a DB as early as the first round.
Instead, the Vikings are rolling with what they have. They signed corners Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but outside of a few undrafted free agents, Minnesota didn’t do anything else to beef up the secondary. That leaves many fans nervous about the secondary next year.
However, fans should be excited that defensive coordinator Brian Flores believes in the guys he has. He built the secondary to maximize his system and get the most out of those playing in it. Not being more aggressive in the offseason doesn’t show weakness; it shows confidence and commitment to what the Vikings already have.
Safety is set for the Vikings
The only safeties on the roster with starting experience are Smith and Josh Metellus, who they use more as a Swiss Army knife rather than a typical safety. Last year’s free safety, Bynum, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. So, who’s going to step up to replace him?
The coaching staff believes it’s Theo Jackson. He’s only played 20% of his career snaps on defense since they signed him off the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad in 2022, spending most of that time on special teams. Still, the Vikings trust him enough to sign him to a two-year, $12.6 million extension this offseason.
In 222 defensive snaps, Jackson has two interceptions, three passes defended, and 28 tackles. His interception off Geno Smith sealed Minnesota’s 27-24 Week 16 win, and his impressive training camps over the past two years give the team confidence that he will step up to the task. That includes praise from Smith.
“He’s always making plays,” Smith said. “Literally from the day he got here, I was like, ‘How did the Titans let him go?’”
It’s a small sample size, but Jackson’s numbers aren’t bad at a glance. He had a career-high 85 PFF grade in his rookie year, good enough for fourth among all NFL safeties. Last year, his 79.2 grade put him at 14th. Again, the sample is small, but it’s an encouraging sign for someone the Vikings believe will excel in a bigger role.
Metellus can fill in the gaps
It’s also important to recognize what Metellus can bring to the defense. He has over 110 tackles in back-to-back years and has played virtually every position on that side of the ball. He’s not a safety in the traditional sense, but they still list him as one, so his experience can be helpful.
Metellus’s ability to line up anywhere on the field can compensate for Jackson’s shortcomings. Metellus can rotate to being a free safety when Jackson needs to blitz, or help cover short routes when he needs to cover the deep ball. He also spent his first few years in the league primarily on special teams, so the Vikings set up Jackson to succeed.
On his podcast, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis said the team didn’t prioritize safety during the draft, showing they are more than happy with what they see from Jackson and the rest of the roster. It’s tough to say whether Jackson will blossom without seeing him in extended action. However, the Vikings prioritized re-signing him, which suggests they see a breakout coming.
One thing’s for sure.
Their success at the position will rest on Jackson.
The Vikings have filled out their corner depth
On the outside, the Vikings wisely re-signed Murphy following his Pro Bowl year. They also added Rodgers following a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles. While he primarily played behind Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay, he still graded out as a top-20 CB on PFF and was a priority for Flores during free agency.
Okudah and Mekhi Blackmon will likely battle for the third corner spot. Both guys have something to prove this season. Blackmon is returning from an ACL injury, and Okudah is trying to stay healthy and deliver on his potential as the third-overall pick in 2020.
Based on his experience, the job seems like Okudah’s to lose. According to PFF, he gives up an average of 16.1 yards per catch, but he has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his career with the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans. His one-year prove-it deal with the Vikings is a chance to show he can be a winning player.
I’m not the only one who thinks this. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah believe in him, with the latter even saying that he’s as talented as anyone in this year’s draft. His 6’1”, 205 lb. frame makes him an intriguing option based on his size alone. He can be physical and matches up better with bigger receivers than the 5’10”, 170 lb. Rodgers.
On the other hand, Blackmon will take any chance he can get to stay on the field. His ACL tear on the first day of training camp in 2024 devastated him and fans alike, so he won’t pass it up if he gets the opportunity. The Vikings really like his potential, so much so that they didn’t feel they needed to address corner in the draft.
Blackmon’s experience in Flores’ defense as a rookie in 2023 will be helpful this season. He had 41 tackles and eight pass breakups that year, becoming a fan favorite and showing he can hold his own in the league. The only question is how well he will come back from injury.
Either way, these two fighting for their spot will bring out the best in each other, and the Vikings will be better for it. They have four capable options at cornerback, showing they don’t need to reach for another and spend even more money this offseason.
The Vikings already spent a league-leading amount on free agents. Considering who they have at their disposal in the secondary, they don’t need to spend more.
