The Minnesota Vikings were active at the outset of free agency and have since cooled their pursuits of available players. With positions still needing additional talent added to the roster, former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard looks like a better fit than ever.
Free Agent CB Would Give Vikings Roster a Boost
Since the Miami Dolphins decided to move on from Xavien Howard, his name immediately seemed like a fit for the Minnesota Vikings. Having significant familiarity with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, it appears that the transition to a new defense would be easy.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had the Vikings linked to former Dolphins lineman Christian Wilkins, and any previous Miami player looked like a good fit for a Minnesota team that now employs Flores. With his defenses continuing to perform at a high level and players that have helped that become a reality on the open market, it makes sense for the two sides to link up.
Specifically with Howard, he needed to clear a few final hurdles before all systems go heading into the new season. With those now behind him, he remains an ideal fit for the Vikings.
Byron Murphy Jr. is the lone veteran starter on Minnesota’s roster, and while they signed Shaq Griffin this offseason, players like Akayleb Evans, Mekhi Blackmon, and Andrew Booth Jr. still carry a lot of weight. Last season, Minnesota watched their cornerbacks get torched far too often, and the position was something of a revolving door when hoping someone would step up on a weekly basis.
The Vikings could select a cornerback during Thursday’s NFL Draft, but since they are also considering a passer early on in the draft, they would need to use one of their later-round picks. Expecting a rookie like that to come in and immediately contribute is probably a bit far-fetched, which means the free-agent market could still be their best bet.
Howard will have suitors, but his long-term market presence bodes well for Minnesota should they covet his services. It’s time to hammer out a contract and get something done.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.