The Minnesota Vikings' cornerbacks room is going to look very different in 2025, and not necessarily for the better.
After sporting an elite defense in 2024, the Vikings did not re-sign either Stephon Gilmore or Shaquill Griffin, but they did bring in Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers. Also, Mekhi Blackmon should be making his return from a torn ACL.
The problem with those three is that all are shaky options, at best, leaving Byron Murphy as the only sure thing.
Rodgers was a backup last year, Okudah has been a major disappointment during his career, and there's no telling how Blackmon will perform in his first year back from his injury, and he remains unproven.
What the Vikings could use is another veteran as an insurance policy and possible starter. With that in mind, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton predicts the Vikings will sign former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones.
The Minnesota Vikings haven't re-signed Shaquill Griffin or Stephon Gilmore. They added Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but over the last two years, Jones has started more games than both of those players combined.
Jones could be a veteran upgrade and spot starter in case cornerback Mekhi Blackmon needs extended time to bounce back from a torn ACL.
After an unsuccessful stint with the New England Patriots that saw some off-the-field issues, Jones landed with the Raiders via waivers in 2023.
Jones managed to revive his career in Las Vegas, where he gave up a completion rate of 56.3% and a passer rating of 63.0 in his first seven games with the team.
Jones also set the NFL record for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns over a players' first 22 career games when he nabbed two with Las Vegas that brought his career total up to three.
Unfortunately for Jones, he wasn't able to build on that success in 2024. The former fourth-round pick's effort was questioned on multiple occasions, and he saw his coverage numbers take a dip, although they were still very respectable.
In all, Jones surrendered a completion rate of 62.8% and a passer rating of 98.5 when targeted. Both of those numbers were comparable to Gilmore's, who surrendered a completion rate of 61.9% and a 94.1 passer rating.
While the effort concerns are obviously troubling, there is little risk in giving Jones a look, as he'll garner a very cheap prove-it deal in free agency.
As a result, if things go south, Minnesota can easily cut him.