Five-time Pro Bowler on Vikings’ Radar, Insider Says

Despite signing two linebackers since cornerback Mekhi Blackmon suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Minnesota Vikings are still expected to make a bigger move, with Stephon Gilmore among the names on the team’s radar, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported on July 30.

After a rehab season with the Dallas Cowboys, Gilmore remains a free agent until the first week of training camp. The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback has said publicly that he would like to wait until the start of the season to sign.

“If teams want to win, I think they need to sign the best players. I know I’m still a starter in this league. I started playing last year, but the season doesn’t start until September, we still have some time,” Gilmore told Josina Anderson on July 16.

Although the Vikings signed linebackers Jacobi Francis and Bobby McCain, neither player was a starter released after Blackmon’s arrival.

“I expect another move and a recognizable name to emerge in the coming weeks,” Wolfson said on the July 30 episode of SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast.

“I understand Gilmore is still in shape. He’s got his coach, he’s training. Gilmore, who’s 34 in September, has been through it all — he knows how to prepare for a season. So if he signs in a couple of weeks, that’s fine,” Wolfson added. “I’m not saying it’s going to be him, I’m just saying I’m confident he’s one of the few names on the Vikings’ radar.”

Stephon Gilmore proves he is a worthy starting CB

GettyStephon Gilmore of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 season.

Gilmore was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 for the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots team. In the latter stages of his career, he played in several leagues.

He played for three teams over the past three seasons after leaving New England in 2020. Gilmore made his last Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers but struggled with the Indianapolis Colts, leading to his trade to the Cowboys last offseason.

Gilmore has proven himself to be more valuable than the fifth-round pick he was traded for, being ranked among the top 30 cornerbacks in the 2023 class by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He has also played more than 1,000 snaps in each of the past two seasons after recovering from a torn quadriceps in 2020.

“Gilmore’s move from the Indianapolis Colts to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason helped him get back into competitive football, and he hasn’t misstepped in recent years,” PFF’s free agency report read. “Gilmore still thrives in single coverage and can jam with more physical receivers through contact, timing his jumps well on contested catches and jump routes with excellent play recognition.”

Vikings explore safety at CB

GettyVikings safety Jay Ward

To address their day-to-day need at cornerback, the Vikings moved safety Jay Ward to cornerback during practice on July 29, while McCain is expected to play safety.

Francis, who did not play a single defensive snap during the regular season, is a safety for the Houston Texans. He was listed as a cornerback when he signed on July 25.

The cornerback room was short-staffed after Najee Thompson entered training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and after Khyree Jackson tragically passed away.

There is an opportunity for third-year cornerbacks Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans to solidify their roles as contributors in the lineup as both cornerbacks, whom defensive coordinator Brian Flores had no say in recruiting, are no longer team picks.

Undrafted rookie cornerback Dwight McGlothern is a strong candidate for a top-four spot on the depth chart. But if no cornerback is trusted to become a starter, a more significant move could be made, such as signing Gilmore.