Zone Coverage: The Next Step For the Vikings Defense? (Plus Vikings Targets)

I published a new piece at Zone Coverage about the issues that plagued the Vikings defense down the stretch and what it means for Brian Flores and the Vikings. Here, I add in some free agent targets.

A new piece at Zone Coverage explores how the Vikings defense has functionally three eras: failure, immense success and failure again (but different). It expands on a post-game piece following the Packers game exploring how the Vikings fell short.

Check it out here.

After an eight-game stretch where the Vikings only allowed 15 points per game, with only one team scoring more than 21 points, they gave up an average of 30 points in their final four games and at least 27 in all of them. That is to say, they were one of the three worst teams in the NFL in the final month of the regular season.

The change is significant. But what’s more interesting than the way the Vikings’ defense was a bit different in the first three weeks, before they found their legs, is the specific way they failed near the end of the season.

In the final frame, the Vikings were much better about avoiding explosive plays than they were at the beginning of the season. Their biggest issue is that they gave up consistent drives and allowed defenses to gain first downs.

In addition to that, I discuss the type of cornerbacks the Vikings need to pursue and list off a few names. Here’s a chart of free agent cornerbacks using PFF grades over the past two years in man coverage.

Obviously, if Jaylon Johnson becomes available — something PFF does not project — the Vikings should target him. I feel the same about L’Jarius Sneed despite that price tag. There are potentially value opportunities with players like Rock Ya-Sin and Keisean Nixon, though Nixon is a bit more of a slot corner.

I think the best value option would be Chidobe Awuzie of these options, though there is some opportunity with Dane Jackson. I don’t think Steven Nelson would be a bad target despite his age if just to have some veteran talent in the room while the young cornerback group continues to develop.

I don’t think it’s time to give up on Akayleb Evans. He played well for most of the year and markedly improved over his rookie season. Players like Trae Waynes and Xavier Rhodes took until year three to be high-level corners and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that from a player that was selected much later than them in the draft.

That said, I’m also confident that the Vikings would be doing themselves a disservice if it was clear he was the best option opposite Byron Murphy Jr. heading into the 2024 season. Adding a veteran to compete (or, in the case of Sneed, Awuzie or Johnson, replace) with Evans seems to be the best option.

This isn’t breaking any new ground here but I wanted to add some additional content on top of what I wrote over at Zone Coverage. Let me know what you think!