D.J. Reed has been one of the best cover corners for one of the NFL’s best defenses in New York. (Seth Wenig/The Associated Press)
D.J. Reed, CB, Jets
Andrew Krammer: I hesitated to list Reed, who is 5-foot-9, for a defense that expects a leap from the 5-foot-11 Mekhi Blackmon and wants to re-sign the 5-foot-11 Murphy. Brian Flores had two 6-foot corners last year in Gilmore and Shaq Griffin, and there are taller free agents available like Davis, Charvarius Ward and Rasul Douglas. But then I stopped overthinking. Reed, 28, has produced just as much as those guys (42 deflections since 2021) and has been one of the best cover corners for one of the NFL’s best defenses in New York. Reed also played very well against the Vikings last year in London, where he allowed just two catches on seven targets for 16 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. He should get more than the $11 million annually he just earned with the Jets, but that’s the cost of adding a set-and-forget corner.
Milton Williams is one of, if not the best, defensive tackle available in free agency, coming off a career-best six sacks in the regular season for the Eagles. (Matt Slocum/The Associated Press)
Emily Leiker: Williams is likely to have his price tag raised after the Cowboys signed defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80-million deal Tuesday. Williams is one of, if not the best, free agent available at his position, coming off a career-best six-sack regular season and having never played more than 50% of defensive snaps through his four seasons in the league. He’s also only 25. The Vikings' two defensive tackles who played the most reps last season, Harrison Phillips and soon-to-be-free-agent Jonathan Bullard, were in their seventh and ninth years in the league, respectively. While the Eagles may very well shell out the cash to keep Williams, he’d make a great acquisition for the Vikings. If they choose to also draft from a talented incoming rookie DT class, Williams and that player would make strong anchors for the defensive front in the coming years.
Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, right, hugs cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. during the team's 27-9 loss to the Rams in the playoffs. (Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Mark Craig: He’ll be expensive, but he’d be money well spent on an ascending core defender at a vital position of tremendous need. Murphy can play outside or in the slot. His instincts and ball skills are All-Pro-caliber and getting better, producing a career-high six interceptions and 14 passes defensed last year. A well-rounded player, he also posted career highs in tackles (81) and tackles for loss (6) while playing every game in a Flores defense in which he’s very comfortable. According to Spotrac, Murphy is looking at a $22.1 million average on a four-year, $88.1 million deal. That’s a lot, but doing this deal is not risky. And not doing the deal means the Vikings — dangerously thin at corner — will have to take big gambles on probably two other free-agent cornerbacks, neither of whom are likely to be as young or as good as Murphy.
Now it’s your turn to play GM. Who do you want the Vikings to sign in free agency on defense? Share your answers in the comments section below.