There is a ton of talent that will take the field for head coach Kevin O’Connell. That doesn’t mean that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should stop short of making sure he has every position group locked in.

Cornerback, especially the depth there, has been something of a question well-before training camp started. Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers are the top options. The Vikings continue to prop up Jeff Okudah. There are still better options out there, Xavien Howard is no longer among them.

Xavien Howard signs with Indianapolis Colts

After suffering a Lisfranc injury to his foot in 2023, Xavien Howard sat out all of 2024. At multiple different points he has been linked to the Minnesota Vikings given his experience with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Now back and ready to roll, he’s joining The Indianapolis Colts instead.

Reunited and it feels so good. Congratulations to @aurasportsgroup client @Iamxavienhoward on signing with @Colts pic.twitter.com/xDg9wAPaGE

— David Canter (@davidcanter) August 18, 2025

The former second round pick in 2016 will play with a new team for the first time in his career. Howard spent his first eight NFL seasons playing for the Miami Dolphins.

Miami cut Howard in February 2024 and he was quickly seen as a potential darling to add for the MN Vikings. Stephon Gilmore wound up being the last minute veteran addition for the cornerback room, and the position was covered last season.

Howard played in 13 games during the 2023 season and picked off a single pass while having 12 passes defended. The four-time Pro Bowl talent, and former first-team All-Pro, has twice led the league in interceptions with seven in 2018, and 10 during the 2020 season.

Related: Former Vikings QB Closing in on Starting Role

It’s uncertain what Howard will bring to the table at this stage of his career. He last was active for a game on December 31, 2023. If he’s healthy though, even at 32 years old, it’s reasonable that he could help a Colts team dealing with a rash of injuries.

It remains to be seen if the MN Vikings will add another cornerback to the roster. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t though, and quality options still exist. With close to $25 million in cap space, James Bradbury, Rasul Douglas, Kendall Fuller, or even a Gilmore reunion are all pretty straightforward moves.

On Friday, the Vikings traded away cornerback Andrew Booth Jr, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s second-ever draft pick. The CB they got in return, Nahshon Wright, has been in the league for three seasons, and started just three games. Offloading one struggling CB for another won’t fix their problem.

Minnesota Vikings linked to two CBs who have played for Brian Flores

But there are a couple of big name veteran free agent corners still on the market who were linked to the Vikings by NFL insider Dan Graziano (ESPN) today. And both Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard once played for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Minnesota also likes Byron Murphy Jr. but would prefer to use him in the nickel corner spot to help with some of the most talented slot receivers its division features, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit, Keenan Allen in Chicago and whichever of the Packers’ interchangeable dudes ends up playing that role in Green Bay. That leaves Fabian Moreau and Akayleb Evans as the likeliest starters opposite Griffin on the outside.

There are still a few free agent veterans who haven’t signed yet, and a couple of those — most notably Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard — have experience playing in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system. So watch for the Vikings to possibly be in play on guys like that when they decide it’s time to sign somewhere.

Dan Graziano – ESPN+

Stephon Gilmore named next to Vikings again

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Stephon Gilmore linked to the purple. It’s already been made clear that Minnesota has interest in the former Bills and Patriots pro bowler. It may be more about how much training camp the 34-year-old wants to partake in, before the season starts.

AJ Brown vs Stephon Gilmore 🍿 pic.twitter.com/NwcHkidmNt

— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 19, 2024

Gilmore would slot in as a starter immediately for the Vikings. His PFF grade from 2023, a 74.4 overall (72.3 coverage), was better than any CB on Minnesota’s roster by a long shot. He totaled 68 tackles, defended 13 passes and snagged two interceptions with the Dallas Cowboys.

How big time of a get would Xavien Howard be?

The second free agent cornerback that Graziano connected to the Vikings is former Miami Dolphin Xavien Howard. Taken in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Howard has FOUR pro bowls and ONE all pro selection. That’s not quite as impressive as Gilmore’s FIVE pro bowls and TWO all pro selections.

Nonetheless, at 31-years-old, he is three years younger and should have more tread on the tires. And, much like Gilmore, would immediately slot in as a starter in Minnesota’s secondary.

Beautiful rep in press by Xavien Howard against DeAndre Hopkins pic.twitter.com/e79FlHgTm4

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) July 16, 2024

PFF doesn’t like Howard (55.1 overall grade, 51.9 coverage) nearly as much as the other former Flores CB mentioned. Still, there is no doubt Howard bring QB pressure ability that Gilmore doesn’t possess.

Cowboys star WR, CeeDee Lamb (who was teammates with Stephon Gilmore last season) recently named Xavien Howard as one of the top five corners in the NFL today.

CeeDee Lamb’s top 5 corners in the #NFL:

1) Sauce Gardner
2) Patrick Surtain
3) Jalen Ramsey
4) Xavien Howard
5) Denzel Ward

(via TheEdgePodcast)

pic.twitter.com/ZThEzalyAq https://t.co/WHrqkVPZdK

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 28, 2024

Combine Blackmon’s injury with losing Khyree Jackson and suddenly, the Vikings’ cornerback depth looks shaky, at best. That’s not good for a team that already entered camp with several question marks when it comes to pass coverage. However, it’s not the end of the world for Brian Flores’s defense, as there are still several potential starting cornerbacks available, either via trade or in free agency.

Here are six potential solutions that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has likely already considered.

Related: Vikings Pay Homage to Khyree Jackson at Training Camp

Vikings could turn to an old friend, Patrick Peterson

If the Vikings want to solve their cornerback depth needs in free agency, then Patrick Peterson may be the perfect solution. Somehow the eight-time Pro Bowl CB remains unsigned despite starting 46 games across the past three seasons, including 30 for the Vikings. While he’s never played for Brian Flores, he’s had to learn enough defensive schemes in his 13-year career that making the necessary adjustments shouldn’t be difficult.

After allowing a respectable passer rating of 80.4 when targeted last season, he’d be a solid addition to an unstable cornerback room. But the questions surrounding whether the 34-year-old can still play at a high level are valid too.

Related: Who Makes the Final Cut in Minnesota Vikings Secondary, Who Doesn’t?

Stephon Gilmore may be just what Vikings need

Another multi-time All-Pro who’s bounced around to several teams over the past few seasons, Stephon Gilmore is still searching for a new role entering his 13th season. He graded much higher than Peterson last season while playing for a Cowboys passing defense that allowed the seventh-fewest yards per reception in 2023. He also allowed a passer rating of 83.3 while intercepting two passes and racking up 68 tackles, starting all 17 games last year.

Like many others on this list, who knows how much gas the 33-year-old former Super Bowl champion has left in the tank? Yet, the Vikings could do a lot worse than Gilmore, and he’s even spent two seasons on a Patriots staff that included Coach Flores.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Fan Favorite Returns

Does James Bradberry still have ‘it’?

Now we get to a player who’s not a free agent, but could very well be on the trade block. For the first time in James Bradberry’s career, he’s working as a safety instead of at cornerback, and he’s not even practicing with the first-team Philadelphia Eagles defense.

This is partially due to the Eagles adding defensive backs with their first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft but also because of a ‘down’ year that saw him allow a passer rating of 108.6 when targeted last season. That’s not exactly good and a far cry from the 54.2 rating he allowed in 2022 when Bradberry was named a second-team All-Pro.

The question is whether Bradberry simply had a bad season or whether he’s lost a significant step, which, again, could be why he’s being tried as a safety, which typically requires less speed. However, he could benefit from a fresh start, and the Vikings could present the perfect opportunity.

Related: Where Do Minnesota Vikings Stand in Pre-Training Camp Power Rankings?

Former Pro Bowl CB J.C. Jackson fits the mold

Another cornerback with familiarity playing in a Brian Flores system, J.C. Jackson started his career with the New England Patriots, where he won a Super Bowl. The former Pro Bowl CB with a second-team All-Pro honor to his name has struggled since signing a massive five-year, $82M contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, but he also dealt with ankle injuries from the jump in LA.

Still just 28 years old, it’s a bit of a surprise to see Jackson still available in free agency. He fits the mold as a big cornerback that Flores seems to adore, as a 6-foot-1, 198-pound athlete. But as mentioned, he just hasn’t played well since leaving New England, combining for a passer rating allowed of 127.3 over the past two seasons. However, if we go back to 2021, Jackson was elite, allowing a passer rating of just 47.8. Can the Vikings recapture that form?

Related: ESPN Not Sold on the Minnesota Vikings for Next Three Seasons

Xavien Howard knows Brian Flores’s scheme very well

You won’t find a cornerback who both knows the scheme, while being excellent playing for Coach Flo than Xavien Howard. He enjoyed three very productive seasons under Flores with the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21, where he twice reached the Pro Bowl, was named a first-team All-Pro and even finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Yet, somehow the 6-foot-1, 203-lb corner who’s nicknamed “X-Factor” remains unsigned in free agency. He’s 31 these days, but this is a player who’s twice led the league in interceptions. But like others listed here, he’s coming off a poor season, by his standards, allowing a passer rating of 86.7. However, if there’s anyone who’s both comfortable and familiar with Howard’s play, it’s Flores.

Related: Top 10 Minnesota Vikings 1st Round Draft Picks of All-Time

Marshon Lattimore may be best CB out there, but is he available?

One player who’s been mentioned as a potential trade candidate is Marshon Lattimore. But is that wishful thinking? The New Orleans Saints haven’t expressed any indication that they want to trade the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback. But we can certainly see the appeal from the Vikings’ perspective.

Not to mention, the Saints perpetually find themselves in ‘cap hell’ each offseason. Moving off from Lattimore’s $14.6 million cap hit could be valuable for New Orleans, especially before his cap number spikes to $31.4M in 2025. A trade may lead to the Vikings restructuring Lattimore’s contract.

But again, the Saints might prefer to see if they can be competitive in an unpredictable NFC South division before considering a Lattimore trade. Then again, an offer too good to refuse could do the trick if Adofo-Mensah can work his magic.

Related: 6 Vikings Training Camp Battles that Matter in 2024

Kirk Cousins is in his fourth year (with one $45M season remaining) in purple and playing the best football of his career. His offensive weapons are among the best in the league and they have a defense Mike Zimmer seems much more comfortable with. Even the offensive line has looked competent of late.

Sacks allowed by the Vikings’ interior offensive line through the first 6 games:

2020: 9
2021: 2

— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) October 18, 2021

So with the trade deadline (Nov. 2) fast approaching, the Vikings have decisions to make. Do they stand pat and hope the roster, as is, can produce better than the .500 results they’ve shown so far? Or, does the front office need to make a trade that will put their depth chart in better position for 2nd-half success?

Some might even argue that the Wilf’s should rip the Mike Zimmer band-aid off now, fire their head coach and become sellers at the deadline. But let’s be realistic, none of that is happening. If the Minnesota Vikings do make a move in the next week, it will be one that they believe makes them better immediately.

Thin at CB

When you look up and down this roster, the obvious weak spot is at cornerback. CB1, Patrick Peterson was just placed on injured reserve so he’ll be forced to miss at least three games. To make matters worse, the next four-game stretch for the Vikings might be the most difficult they will face, in terms of QB play.

The #Vikings next four games make up the most difficult stretch of QB's they'll face all season… and P2 just hit IR.

Wk8: Dak (83.0 – PFF Grade)
9: Lamar (86.3)
10: Herbert (86.8)
11: Rodgers (77.2)

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 25, 2021

Even with a healthy Patrick Peterson, the Vikings were likely to struggle against QB’s like Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Aaron Rodgers. Without him, Zimmer will be forced to turn to Bashaud Breeland and Cam Dantzler.

Breeland was awful through the first few weeks but he’s been a new man ever since his back and forth with Chris Tomasson (Pioneer Press) regarding PFF scores a few weeks ago. If Spielman doesn’t deal for another CB next week then Breeland will be asked to do a lot more, against much better quarterbacks.

Dantzler’s 2021 Rollercoaster

On the other side, Minnesota has second year cornerback, Cam Dantzler. After an impressive rookie campaign full of playing time, his sophomore season has been quite the rollercoaster ride. His snap percentage has been up and down throughout, which makes consistency difficult.

Here is Dantzler’s snap percentage week by week so far (via PFF).

• 1: Inactive
• 2: 26% snaps played
• 3: 0% snaps played
• 4: 92% snaps played
• 5: 0% snaps played
• 6: 34% snaps played

Mike Zimmer has been reluctant to trust Dantzler, for whatever reason, even when Breeland has struggled. Unless Spielman makes a move, Zimmer will be forced to once again list Dantzler as a starting CB on the depth chart.

Option #1: Splash Trade

There are a couple of ways the Vikings could approach a cornerback trade at the deadline. Option #1 would be to deal for a star CB that would immediately make the secondary better.

If this is the route Rick Spielman chooses, the most obvious target would be Dolphins CB, Xavien Howard, who wants out of Miami. Howard requested a trade before the season and his play has fallen off since, making him gettable without breaking the bank.

Dealing for Xavien Howard would probably cost the Vikings some nice draft capital, including a second or third round pick. Last year, Howard was great and ranked as the 2nd-best CB in the NFL by PFF. When healthy, he’s been a top-20 cornerback since 2018.

The Vikings would have to decide if Howard’s drop in play this season is because of his trade request. They’d also have to be confident he could return to his former DPOY candidate self to pull the trigger. Howard is under contract through 2024 with a massive cap hit around $14 million per season. Both Zimmer and Spielman would have to really like him to make the move.

Hearing teams have had discussions with Miami about Xavien Howard.

These teams include: Chiefs, Packers, Buccaneers, Vikings, Cardinals, Browns, and Raiders.

Current going price is a 3rd due to his 14 million cap hit.

— Tyler Kazmer (@KazmersKorner) October 21, 2021

Option #2 – Depth Move

The other option for the Minnesota Vikings would be to add more depth at cornerback, instead of swinging for a top guy. This is the more likely route Spielman will travel and Bleacher Report recently offered up Houston Texans CB, Vernon Hargreaves III as a guy the Vikings could target.

Hargreaves wouldn’t make the impact of a Howard but he would provide stability and injury insurance should anything else happen to the Minnesota secondary. He wouldn’t do anything to raise the ceiling of the Vikings but he’d certainly raise the floor.

PFF ranks Hargreaves as the 62nd-best CB out of 118 who are eligible and he’d probably come cheap (late-round draft pick).

Do Something

If the Minnesota Vikings are truly serious about contending for a playoff spot at the end of this season, they’ll make a move for another cornerback. It’s the most obvious position of need and Zimmer has probably been bugging Spielman about that since Peterson went to IR.

With a QB gauntlet they’re about to face, they should make a move sooner, rather than later.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan