Vikings Urged to Named as Landing Spot for Super Bowl Winning Cornerback

The Minnesota Vikings have signed three cornerbacks in free agency this off-season.

But that won’t stop news outlets from linking Minnesota to some of the top free agents still on the market. The latest rumor involved free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore to Minnesota from USA Today.

Gilmore will be 35 on Sept. 19 yet is coming off a highly productive year in Minnesota. The two-time All-Pro and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year had nine passes defended, one interception and 56 tackles in 15 games.

Why Should The Vikings Sign Stephon Gilmore?

The most compelling reason for Minnesota to sign Gilmore is the coaching staff knows what it is getting since it had him in the Vikings facility a year ago.

There is a chance the Vikings have a deal in place for Gilmore that they will announce during training camp, since veterans like Gilmore loathe the grind of camp. That would explain Minnesota’s decision to not add further in its secondary beyond re-signing Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers.

But if there is not a deal in place, USA Today writer Nick Brinkerhoff floated the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins.

“He has been a serviceable option for teams in recent years, offering a veteran presence that is more than capable of producing,” Brinkerhoff wrote. “He’s already won a Super Bowl and has over $116 million in career earnings, per Spotrac, meaning Gilmore can approach his free agent decision in a variety of ways. He can chase money or another ring, potentially even both depending on the destination.”

Of those spots, the Vikings appear closest to the Super Bowl, since they were 14-3 a year ago and are a sexy pick to win the NFC North and even the NFC.

But outside of Murphy and Rodgers, Minnesota appears poised to start veteran Jeff Okudah as the other outside cornerback. Okudah had just a 31.0 grade out of 100 from Pro Football Focus last season while playing six games with the Houston Texans.

What Other Cornerbacks Are Tied To The Vikings?

If Gilmore gets away, the Vikings may still have options via free agency, notably veteran Asante Samuel Jr., who Brinkerhoff also tied to Minnesota.

“It’s certainly not a talent issue for the cornerback, who is just 25 years old, but rather an injury one that has him still on the market,” Brinkerhoff wrote. “Aside from the injury concerns, Samuel figures to be an upgrade for whatever team signs him at this stage of the offseason.”

Those injury concerns are notable, since as ESPN reported that Samuel had surgery to repair a stinger in the spring and would start checking in with teams in early July.

Samuel reportedly visited the New Orleans Saints right after his surgery, and they as well as again the Raiders, were floated by USA Today as potential landing spots.

Samuel was confined to just four games in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers due to the injury and had just 13 tackles and two passes defended. In his four-season NFL career with the Chargers, Samuel has six interceptions, one fumble recovery and 176 tackles in 50 games.