One of the Minnesota Vikings’ priorities this offseason will be retooling a cornerback room that has lacked consistent high-end play for nearly half a decade. Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. is returning on a multi-year deal, and Mekhi Blackmon is prepping for a return from an ACL tear suffered in the preseason, but they need more help.
Minnesota could look to attack the position in the draft, with multiple prospects like Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Michigan’s Will Johnson, Texas’ Jahdae Barron, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison, and East Carolina’s Shavon Revel all hailed as potential first-round selections.
2025 NFL Draft Cornerback Rankings🔒
(Via: @TampaBayTre) pic.twitter.com/N4eTIyKWf8
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 9, 2024
The Vikings have the 24th pick and may trade down to maximize draft value, so Hunter, Johnson, and even Barron may be gone by the time Minnesota is on the clock. Still, of the remaining options, Morrison is incredibly enticing.
Forever Irish☘️ pic.twitter.com/v73phwr998
— Benjamin Morrison (@BMoe_21) January 23, 2025
Morrison is a 20-year-old cornerback prospect from Phoenix. His father, Daryl Morrison, played safety in the NFL for Washington from 1993 to 1996. Morrison was hailed as a likely top-15 selection before he suffered a hip injury that sidelined him for most of last season.
Notre Dame primarily used Morrison on the boundary, accruing 540 snaps at corner in 2023 and 272 in 2024. Notre Dame went to the national championship, and Morrison was a crucial part of their defense throughout the first seven weeks. PFF gave him an 84.6 coverage grade in his last full campaign.
Wonder how much Benjamin Morrison slides due to the hip injury. Good numbers pic.twitter.com/PkvFf7dnpo
— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 3, 2025
Allowing less than one yard per coverage snap and a sub-50 passer rating over his career, Morrison has the stats to validate a selection. However, his medicals have depressed his stock. The tape shows high-level cornerback play, which he displays against NFL-caliber receivers.
Every Benjamin Morrison/Marvin Harrison Jr. 1-on-1 🍿 pic.twitter.com/uqHNusYFiC
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) July 25, 2024
Morrison has an incredibly smooth backpedal, quick feet, and patient movement. He works through traffic with aplomb, displaying strong peripheral awareness against mesh and rub concepts. Morrison also displayed excellent long speed, which he highlighted when covering Penn State’s Julian Fleming, who can run a 4.3.
Morrison is consistently shoulder-to-shoulder/or draped in trail against vertical threat receivers. He has the body type Brian Flores has targeted, measuring 6’0”, 190 lbs.
Notre Dame CB, Benjamin Morrison would've been a top 15 pick if not for a hip injury in 2024.
He had 9 INTs and 18 PBUs in only 31 career college games.
I usually try avoid players coming off injury, but I'd run to the podium if he was there at 23. pic.twitter.com/LS9q77l13g
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) February 13, 2025
Morrison is also an incredible playmaker. He’s run back multiple interceptions for touchdowns, displaying shiftiness and agility on returns and his excellent long speed.
Every Benjamin Morrison interception in 90 seconds ☘️
2️⃣0️⃣ is different
The best of @BMoe_21 ➡️ https://t.co/p3XHlCWY5s#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/OhcXNF9ytk
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) March 12, 2025
His play is cerebral, with excellent diagnosis and response. Morrison can wrap up in one-on-ones in space when moving horizontally. He is a smooth athlete with excellent ball-timing skills and a strong vertical leap. He also displays precocious poise and good awareness, especially when playing receivers within the red zone.
Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison… I forgot how much I loved his ‘23 tape. Here’s 5 plays vs. OSU ‘23. Step-for step w/ MHJ but gives one up. Then watch how he responds on the rest of game!
Not biggest, nor fastest. But DAMN good football player. Instincts, leverage, ball… pic.twitter.com/oxvBCKxU2S
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 24, 2025
However, Morrison is still a work in progress. He can get washed out in the run game and little-brothered after the catch. Morrison also displays a quick downhill trigger but too frequently misses tackles trying to launch into the ball carrier. He struggles against big-bodied pass-catchers in contested situations. He can also get too vertical and lose leverage in press situations, and strong hand-fighters can push him off their route.
Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison discussed his hip injury right away. Got cleared 4-5 weeks ago.
He won’t workout at the Combine or at the Notre Dame Pro Day. Mentions that he will have a private showcase for teams. pic.twitter.com/KRlXPQPAhD
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) February 27, 2025
Morrison has been cleared and will show his talent at a private showcase for NFL evaluators, giving him another opportunity to promote his talent and physical ability.
Depending on NFL teams’ comfortability with his medical evaluations, he could be available at the end of the first to the mid-second round. Morrison would immediately inject the cornerback room with youth and athleticism, providing another versatile corner for Flores’ mix-and-match schemes.
Morrison could provide the answer that the Minnesota Vikings are searching for as a prospect who provides value on the board and immediate impact at a position of need. Given his medicals raise no further concerns, Morrison could provide high-level play at corner that the team has severely lacked and bring a true CB1 to Minnesota for the first time since Xavier Rhodes.