PurplePTSD: Overpaying For A Free Agent CB2 Makes Very Little Sense

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-03-14

The Vikings need help at corner, but not at some of the prices we’re seeing in the rumors. In fact, several of this year’s free agent CB2 options don’t make sense for the Vikings if the numbers work out the way many expect.

Consider Darious Williams. The Rams corner enters free agency as a Super Bowl champion. His market will likely be robust since every team needs experienced players who can cover. The expectation, though, is that he’ll demand $11M per season. Folks, he played opposite Jalen Ramsey in LA, so he consistently got easier assignments. Plus, Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, and Von Miller consistently made life difficult for the opposition’s QB.

In this ideal set of circumstances, Williams finished as PFF‘s 64th-best corner. In fairness, he did grade as their 4th-best corner in 2020, but it’s fair to wonder if Williams could replicate such success somewhere else.

Charvarius Ward is another name to consider. He fits Ed Donatell’s desire for a corner who can play man-to-man and who has ball skills: “Ward has played a variety of coverages in Kansas City, but he’s at his best in man coverage on the outside.”

Again, though, the issue is price. PFF predicts a deal that pays him $14 million per season. It’s far, far too much for someone whom they project as a (albeit strong) CB2 option.

The Vikings ought to already have a player who fill that CB2 role in Cameron Dantzler. Now, that doesn’t mean the team can be complacent. Quite the opposite is true. After Dantzler, there is essentially no legit talent in that corner room, so moves will need to be made.

The focus, though, must be on deals that fill the need without putting the team in dire straits. Bryce Callahan, Steven Nelson, and even Patrick Peterson would make more sense if the deal is modest. Part of the goal, of course, is to avoid putting oneself in the position of needing to snag a corner early in the draft. Picking up a free agent CB2 would help allow Minnesota to avoid forcing things.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.