Stephon Gilmore's desire to continue his career opens door for return to Vikings
The soon-to-be 35-year old said he wants to continue playing, but, "it's just got to be the right situation."
There has been plenty of discussion this offseason about the Vikings’ cornerback situation and whether they have the necessary depth. It’s not for a lack of corners on the roster — that number is at 11 as training camp gets set to open on July 23 — but rather the quality of those players.
In offseason practices, the three main cornerbacks were Byron Murphy Jr. and free agent additions Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. Mekhi Blackmon, who is returning after missing all of last season because of a torn ACL, also was in the mix but appeared to be behind Okudah.
Dwight McGlothern, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in April 2024, made the initial 53-man roster last year and could be in line to compete for playing time this season. Zemaiah Vaughn was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Utah this spring and also impressed during Organized Team Activities and training camp.
I haven’t gotten the impression the Vikings are as worried about the depth as some fans, but it’s understandable why concern exists. Murphy, who is coming off an excellent season and was rewarded with a three-year, $54 million deal, is the only sure thing.
Rodgers signed a two-year, $11 million contract after starting three of the 15 games in which he appeared with Philadelphia last season. He also was suspended for the 2023 season for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling.
Okudah, the third-overall pick in 2020 by the Detroit Lions, will be playing on his fourth team in six years and his third in the past three. He has yet to play a full season in the NFL and appeared in only six games with the Houston Texans in 2024. Okudah, 26, was used far more on special teams (49 percent of the snaps) than he was on defense (19 percent).
Rodgers was signed at the behest of Brian Flores, meaning the Vikings defensive coordinator thinks he can get more out of him than was the case with Indianapolis or Philadelphia. Okudah is a player on whom the Vikings are taking a flyer. Blackmon, a third-round pick in 2023, hasn’t played in a game since his rookie season.
So what will the Vikings do if Okudah and Blackmon struggle and the other cornerbacks in camp don’t emerge? One option might be bringing back a familiar face. Free agent Stephon Gilmore recently said on “The Money Down” podcast that he wants to play this season.
“It's just got to be the right situation," Gilmore said. “It's got to be the right situation for me. I'm not just gonna sign anywhere. … I still love the game. I still can contribute. It's just got to be the right place.”
The Vikings might fit that bill for a variety of reasons.