The Minnesota Vikings were one of the busiest teams in this year’s free agency, as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had the cap space to address the major needs. There’s a chance this year’s group of newcomers can even surpass last year’s outstanding class.
The Vikings Have an Upside Free Agent
Much attention has been paid to shiny new defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javin Hargrave, who have the talent to be difference-makers on the defensive front, especially in the passing game. Will Fries and Ryan Kelly could finally solidify the offensive line.
One guy who hasn’t gotten as much hype is Isaiah Rodgers. The corner signed a two-year deal worth $11 million (up to $15 million), so the Vikings envision him to log significant snap numbers, perhaps even as a full-time starter.
Pro Football Focus’ Ben Cooper handpicked Rodgers as Minnesota’s upside signing. He explained his choice:
“The Vikings, the only team to earn an A+ in PFF’s free-agency grades, haven’t been shy about spending money amid their lack of draft capital. Rodgers’ two-year, $11 million deal was a modest expenditure among other high-priced additions, and yet, he is positioned to be one of Minnesota’s highest-impact signings. His 85.4 passer rating allowed in 2024 was a top-40 mark among cornerbacks, and he was the position’s 12th-highest-graded player in run defense (83.4).”
Rodgers was a 2020 sixth-round pick. Coming out of UMass, his 4.28-second 40-yard dash turned some heads, and the Colts secured the standout returner and cornerback. The Colts used him as their kick returner in all three seasons.
On defense, his role grew following a rookie season with barely any action from scrimmage, but he logged about half the defensive snaps in his next two campaigns.
Then, Rodgers was suspended for a year due to gambling, and the Colts quickly waived him. Philadelphia picked him up, knowing he wouldn’t play for a full season. That move paid dividends in 2024 when he was a rotational player for the Super Bowl-winning side.
In his four seasons and five years, he has played in 60 contests (13 starts), tabulating a kick return touchdown, three picks, 116 tackles, and a pair of forced fumbles.
Rodgers has played well in limited opportunities. The Vikings bank on the upside and hope he can build a solid cornerback duo with Byron Murphy Jr. or a trio, including Mekhi Blackmon. Of course, the club could also add a cornerback in the draft.
For now, it should be expected that Rodgers will compete with Blackmon for the second cornerback job.
At his (virtual) introductory press conference, Rodgers sent defensive coordinator Flores a message, requesting a continued high blitz rate, “With the team we have, I’m all for it, so blitz all day, it saves time me having to cover. I trust this team, I trust his strategy and everything he has going into game plans.”
In both years under Flores, the Vikings led the league in blitz rate, and considering his history of blitzing, it would be shocking to see the coordinator dial it back.
Rodgers’ speed could lead to some more man coverage on the backend, something Flores could not do consistently in the last two seasons, primarily because of the lack of cornerback talent and youth.
The new defender turned 27 in January and hopes to finally become a full-time starter in the league.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt