**Vikings Identified as Ideal Team for $39 Million Cornerback, Former First-Round Pick**
The Minnesota Vikings have consistently aimed to strengthen their secondary, but these efforts have yielded only marginal improvements.
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen recently suggested that the Vikings are the best fit for several remaining free agents, including former New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. This suggestion comes even after Minnesota sought to enhance their secondary through the 2024 NFL draft.
“The Vikings drafted cornerback Khyree Jackson from Oregon in the fourth round of April’s draft. He’s tall at 6-foot-4 and possesses the physical traits to challenge wide receivers,” Bowen wrote on May 20. “However, there’s still a need for more depth at cornerback in a defense led by coordinator Brian Flores that frequently applies pressure. Last season, Minnesota led the NFL with a blitz rate of 49.4%. This aggressive defense is well-suited for the coverage skills of Adoree’ Jackson.”
**Adoree’ Jackson Has Consistently Been a Solid Cover Corner**
Bowen noted that Flores’ scheme could help Jackson create more impactful plays, despite his limited number of career interceptions (four).
“Even with a low number of interceptions, Jackson can provide competition in Minnesota’s secondary and the scheme could position him to make more plays,” Bowen continued.
Although Jackson hasn’t produced many interceptions (four) or defensive touchdowns (one), he has been effective at limiting opposing quarterbacks’ completion percentages. He has kept them below 56.5% in three of the last six seasons, with impressive rates of 52.1% and 51.7% in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Jackson’s performance dipped last year, his final season with the Giants, allowing a completion rate of 65.9% and a passer rating of 95.5.
**Adoree’ Jackson Could Be a Good Fit for the Vikings’ Struggling Secondary**
A former first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2017, Jackson signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Giants in March 2021.
Turning 29 next season, Jackson could appeal to a Vikings team needing cornerback depth. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has focused on rebuilding the roster with younger players since taking over in 2022.
Spotrac estimates Jackson’s market value at $10.4 million annually on a new three-year deal (over $31 million total), which may be too high for a Vikings team with less than $16.7 million in salary cap space for the 2024 season.
Despite this, Bowen’s suggestion that the Vikings should continue to explore free agent cornerbacks indicates the significant need for more depth at the position.
Minnesota finished 24th in the NFL last season in pass defense, allowing 3,986 passing yards (234.5 yards per game).
Improvement is essential in 2024, especially with the increasing quarterback talent in the NFC North, including Chicago Bears’ No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, a more experienced Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers, and Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, who recently signed a $212 million extension after a strong season.
Leave a Reply