Beyond quarterback, Minnesota eyes cornerback upgrades. Experts highlight free agency targets to bolster a secondary needing depth and consistent playmaking for 2026.
The Minnesota Vikings are looking to upgrade this offseason. Nationally, the focus is centered around who they could add at the quarterback position. In Minnesota, some are focusing on a similar sounding position.
The Vikings can certainly stand to upgrade at quarterback, but they can also get better at cornerback. "Corner" has quickly become a premier position with the proliferation of the passing game in the NFL. One expert suggests that the Vikings can go from good enough to simply being good at the position.
Dustin Baker of Vikings Territory wrote the following of how the Vikings can improve at the cornerback position.
"The Vikings successfully navigated the 2025 campaign with these cornerbacks: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Fabian Moreau, and Jeff Okudah. Murphy Jr. and Rodgers missed zero games, a remarkable feat for two starting cornerbacks.
The problem? Minnesota probably won’t get another pristine year of CB health. It’s rare.
Therefore, the club needs another cornerback — someone more dependable than Okudah and younger than Moreau. Many fans have just assumed that a Round 1 cornerback will be on the way. While that could be true, Minnesota could also just as easily sign a CB from free agency and call it good."
Baker suggests that Montaric Brown (Jacksonville), Cordale Flott (New York), Greg Newsome II (Jacksonville), Alontae Taylor (New Orleans), Jaylen Watson (Kansas City) and Tariq Woolen (Seattle) could be potential options.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) reacts to a fumble recovery next to cornerback Montaric Brown (30) during the second quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-UnionIf some of those names are unfamiliar, you're probably not the only one who feels that way. Elite cornerbacks often are the only ones who see recognition and even then, it takes time for the best defensive backs to become household names. Nevertheless, adding here could make for an even more dangerous Vikings team in 2026.
Minnesota was fine at cornerback in 2026. But to win a Super Bowl with what we expect the team might be looking to add at quarterback, the Vikings are going to need to be good to great at several places on defense.
These moves would not necessarily make the Vikings secondary elite nor transform what they already have at the third level of defense. Even so, they would add depth and playmaking to the secondary and make it more imposing for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
The Vikings are set to upgrade this offseason, but don't assume that only means improving at quarterback. We'll see what moves the team can pull off as it navigates its salary cap for 2026.