7 cornerbacks the Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency
The Vikings’ cornerback room will need to be reloaded in a big way this offseason. Starters Byron Murphy Jr. and Stephon Gilmore are set for free agency, as are CB3 Shaq Griffin and CB4 Fabian Moreau. The only players currently under contract in 2025 are Mekhi Blackmon, who is coming off a torn ACL, and depth options like Dwight McGlothern, Ambry Thomas, Nahshon Wright, and Reddy Steward.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will need to add at least two starting-caliber corners this offseason. Fortunately, the Vikings have the cap space to make some significant moves in free agency. Let’s take a look at some of the notable players they could target at the cornerback position.
Reed has sometimes been overshadowed by teammate Sauce Gardner, but he’s a bona fide No. 1 corner (or elite No. 2) in his own right. The 28-year-old has been outstanding since becoming a full-time starter in 2020, first with Seattle for a couple years and then for the last three in New York. That’s included a few impressive performances against Justin Jefferson and the Vikings. Reed is undersized for a boundary corner at 5’9″, but he makes up for it with physicality, technique, and ball skills. He’s a great player who would fit nicely in Brian Flores’ defense.
Carlton Davis, Lions
If Flores wants the Vikings to shell out for a player with more prototypical size, Davis would be the guy to target. He’s 6’1″, 206 pounds and has long arms. The former six-year Buccaneers starter was traded to Detroit last spring and played at a high level for the Lions before suffering a season-ending jaw injury. Since 2019, only Denzel Ward has more passes defended than Davis, who has 80 of them during that span. Like Reed, he’s still in his prime at 28 years old.
Byron Murphy Jr., Vikings
Murphy’s price went up after a six-interception season that earned him his first career Pro Bowl nod. He’s sticky in coverage, makes plays on the ball, and has the versatility to play inside or outside. Murphy also had six tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season. The former Cardinals second-round pick is just 27 years old despite being six years into his NFL career. The Vikings would presumably love to re-sign Murphy, but it’ll all depend on the cost.
Charvarius Ward, 49ers
Ward was a Pro Bowler and second team All-Pro in 2023 after racking up five interceptions and a league-high 23 total passes defended. His 2024 wasn’t nearly as good, and included five missed games due to injury, but his track record suggests he should bounce back next season. The former Chiefs UDFA turns 29 in May. He’s another big outside corner at 6’1″.
