The Minnesota Vikings started training camp Wednesday at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. They will continue to practice on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with Saturday marking the first of nine days that fans are welcome to observe. The other eight days of open practice include Monday, July 29; Tuesday, July 30; Wednesday, July 31; Friday, August 2; Saturday, August 3; Monday, August 5; Wednesday, August 7; and Thursday, August 8.
One storyline to follow throughout training camp is who starts at cornerback this season after being ranked in the bottom half in 2023.
The Minnesota Vikings secondary struggled in 2023
The Vikings’ pass defense finished in the bottom half in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and first downs in 2023. They allowed the most completions, the 9th-most passing yards, the 14th-most passing touchdowns, and the 5th-most passing first downs.
The Vikings currently have two starting spots locked in. Byron Murphy looks to start on the outside while Josh Metellus starts in the slot, leaving a vacancy on the other outside spot. Unfortunately, a possible starter suffered a significant injury.
The Minnesota Vikings’ former 3rd-round pick suffered a significant knee injury
Mekhi Blackmon suffered a knee injury during their first day of training camp. He was on the ground for a while and limped back to the locker room. An MRI confirmed that he tore his ACL and will miss the entire 2024 season, a crushing blow to an already thin cornerback room.
The Vikings drafted Blackmon in the 3rd round, 102nd overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had a solid rookie season, recording 41 tackles, one interception, and eight pass deflections in 15 games with three starts.
They have two options to replace him.
Option #1: An in-house candidate
He signed a contract with the Vikings this offseason, hoping to compete for a starting spot. So far, he’s emerged as the front-runner to start alongside Murphy.
Other in-house candidates include Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth, and Duke Shelley.
Option #2: Free-agent acquisition
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The second option is a free-agent acquisition. The Vikings have roughly $21 million in cap space and can afford to sign a big-name free agent. One possible solution is Patrick Peterson.
Peterson spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Vikings before signing a two-year contract with the Steelers in 2023. Unfortunately, the Steelers cut him, and he is a free agent.
Other big-name free agents include Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard, Adoree’ Jackson, and J.C. Jackson.
