Vikings Get No Love In PFF's Cornerback Rankings

Press release from Vikings Territory:

July 30, 2021

The Minnesota Vikings devoted ample time, thought, and finances to bolstering the cornerback group during the 2021 offseason. The team’s head coach, Mike Zimmer, arrived at leadership positions in Cincinnati and Minnesota on the backbone of coaching secondaries.

Last season, he entered the pandemic season with a young twosome of Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney, outfitted with depth by another young corner, Mike Hughes, who later missed most of the season. For the most part, it was the Dantzler-Gladney show as the Vikings navigated a weird season with youth at the back of the defense.

How would the Vikings [in a roundabout sense] prepare for a potential Gladney absence? Well, they were ready before the alleged crime even took place. General Manager Rick Spielman’s splashiest move of the offseason – it was also incredibly unforeseen – was the acquisition of Patrick Peterson in free agency. Peterson, 30, is an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time First Team All-Pro. He’ll get a righteous chance for a second act with the tutelage of Mike Zimmer. Spielman also signed Bashaud Breeland, a Super Bowl-winning defensive back from the Kansas City Chiefs. Mackensie Alexander, a player with preexisting ties to the Vikings, also returned home on a tiny deal.

According to Pro Football Focus, though, the depth doesn’t translate to elite individual play. PFF ranked the NFL’s top 32 cornerbacks earlier this week – and zero Vikings graced the rankings. The “closest” thing to it was Trae Waynes, a player that departed the Vikings for the Cincinnati Bengals one year ago. Waynes is considered the NFL’s 31st-best corner.

Peterson’s grade in 2020 was 55.2, so it was not surprising that the ex-Cardinal was ignored. The excitement surrounding his Vikings rebirth is a change of scenery, particularly that cultivated by Zimmer.

Leading the rankings are Jaire Alexander, Jalen Ramsey, and Marlon Humphrey in descending order.

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