The Minnesota Vikings are on the verge of a new era under a new coaching staff, but that doesn’t mean they’ve completely eradicated all of their past troubles, particularly at the cornerback position.
Arif Hasan of The Athletic isn’t convinced the team solved all of its issues in the offseason by bringing in rookies Andrew Booth Jr. and Akayleb Evans, along with veteran Chandon Sullivan.
That doesn’t mean a turnaround is impossible, but according to Hasan, there are still some serious question marks in Minnesota right now.
Hasan wrote:
“It looks like the cornerback group might have the most ups and downs. Declining veteran Patrick Peterson and disappointing 2020 third-round pick Cameron Dantzler are expected to compete with rookie Andrew Booth, who might take a bit of time to get online before becoming a high-level player. Until that happens, the secondary could be leaky.”
The Vikings are putting a lot of faith in their soon-to-be 32-year-old cornerback, Peterson. There has been noticeable slippage in his game, as with any aging player. But the difference is he’s still the team’s No. 1 option at the position.
Things start to get a bit uncertain after that with Cam Dantzler expected to take a bigger role on defense in his third season. Booth, a rookie second-round draft pick, is also expected to contribute, even though he’s still working his way back from a sports hernia surgery.
There’s also the rookie fourth-round pick, Evans, who could be an injury away from being thrown into the starting lineup. The concerns are certainly legitimate.
But so is the optimism.
Peterson might be on the decline, but he’s still a viable starter in the league. He’s also an incredible leader with the ability to pass on invaluable knowledge to the younger players on the roster.
Evans was already turning heads during the spring practices, and Booth could possibly be a Day One starter if healthy.
And why isn’t anyone talking about Sullivan? He has long been one of the better slot corners in the league, and now, he’ll be lining up in the defensive backfield for the Vikings.
Sure, it may not all be sugar and rainbows at corner, but it certainly isn’t all lightning and thunder, either. For a unit that gave up the fifth-most passing yards on average last season, they’re sure to be at least a little better in 2022.
