Despite the Green Bay Packers trading for some new guy from Dallas, it’s actually the Minnesota Vikings’ cornerback room that has been the talk of the town this offseason. Maybe not for the same reasons, though, because the unit is arguably the weakest position group on the roster. So, whether they are ready or not, the Vikings will find out immediately in Week 1 if significant changes are needed to a group that enters the season with a lot of uncertainty.
Already in the first game of the season, the newly constructed cornerback room will face a tough test against the Chicago Bears. The Bears boast a borderline top-15 wide receiver in D.J. Moore, an up-and-coming talent with Rome Odunze, and a first-year head coach who orchestrated one of the best offenses in the league last season. That’s enough Bears praise for the next decade. Still, despite the uncertainty around quarterback Caleb Williams, there’s no doubt that Minnesota’s division rival will test them immediately, in primetime on Monday night. No pressure.
There shouldn’t be too much concern with Byron Murphy Jr., who the Vikings rewarded with a monster contract extension after a breakout season. His coverage can be suspect, as evidenced by his mediocre 72.8 PFF grade, but his nose for the ball and big-play ability can change the game in an instant. Since joining the Vikings, the former Arizona Cardinals cornerback has had Moore’s number. Murphy and Moore have locked horns in three games over the past two years, and Murphy has allowed just nine receptions, 67 yards, and zero touchdowns in those matchups. Give Murphy some Moore.
After Murphy, there are a lot more questions than answers. While this offseason was fruitful for the offensive and defensive lines, Minnesota hasn’t paid the same love and attention to the cornerback room. The Vikings opted against bringing back (for now) veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin, traded Mekhi Blackmon as the latest edition of failed Kwesi Adofo-Mensah picks, and didn’t address the position in the draft either. So now it’ll be mostly up to a new, enigmatic band of players.
In Minnesota’s newly released depth chart, free-agent acquisition Isaiah Rodgers will be another starter at corner alongside Murphy. While he’s been a solid pro and won a Super Bowl in 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles, he’s only started a total of 13 games in four seasons. Combined with his smaller size at 5’10”, 176 lbs., it’s hard to project how well he’ll hold up in a bigger role with Minnesota. Odunze and rookie Luther Burden III are 6’3” and 6’0”, respectively, and both weigh in at over 210 lbs., so Rodgers will immediately face a tall task staying physical with these bigger receivers.
Further down the depth chart, the cheap addition of former third-overall pick Jeff Okudah is hard to hate. Still, his one-dimensional skills as only a press-man corner and frequent injuries could quickly start to outweigh his potential. However, his skills may actually translate better than Rodgers in this matchup, and we could see a heavy dose of Okudah on Monday night. The Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans have all already failed at bringing out the best in Okudah. Still, do we dare underestimate the power of Brian Flores?
Dwight McGlothern rounds out the quartet and has actually impressed during training camp, but his lack of experience adds yet another troubling aspect to this unit. While we may see safety Theo Jackson on the field before McGlothern due to Chicago’s high tight end usage, any injury to the other corners will thrust him into the lineup. The three cornerbacks outside of Murphy started a combined three games in 2024, so it’s certainly fair to question if Adofo-Mensah has put enough resources into the group.
With a below-average rushing attack, the Bears will likely throw the ball a significant amount in 2025, providing plenty of opportunities to gauge the Vikings’ cornerbacks. And while significant concerns remain leading up to the matchup, another unit might be able to take some of that strain off. Minnesota’s defensive front, with the additions of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, could be an X-factor this season in protecting this unproven secondary. The Vikings registered five sacks against Chicago last season and should look to dial up the heat once again to alleviate some of that pressure on the corners.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Bears provide a perfect laboratory for testing out this new cornerback unit in Week 1. With their talented playmakers and an offensive-minded head coach, it won’t take long for Kevin O’Connell to find out what he has in the secondary. Hopefully, Murphy and Co. hold up their end of the bargain under the bright lights of primetime.