The Minnesota Vikings led the NFL in interceptions last year by a comfortable margin, but they face the challenge of rebuilding the secondary from the ground up this offseason.
Minnesota started five defensive backs as part Brian Flores’ defense in 2024, three cornerbacks and two safeties.
All three of those corners and one safety are headed for free agency in less than two weeks, while the Vikings must restructure Harrison Smith’s contract to avoid owing him $25 million in 2026 if they want him back for another year.
The Vikings only have four draft picks at their disposal to revamp the roster in April, two of which fall in the fifth round and another at the end of the third.
Thus, the organization must turn to free agency or the trade market to piece together a secondary even if it does select a DB with the No. 24 overall pick, which many draft analysts are projecting. Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander.
© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports © Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Players like D.J. Reed and Chavarius Ward should be available come March 12, though an even bigger name — Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers — is already available via a trade. ”
Sources: The #Packers have had trade conversations centered around star CB Jaire Alexander, and they are open to moving him for the right price,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Feb. 26. “Alexander, still just 28 and a two-time Pro Bowler, is considered to be the most decorated CB available.”
Alexander has dealt with injury issues in each of the past two seasons, which have cost him 10 regular-season games in each campaign.
But when healthy, Alexander remains one of the best in the league at his position, hence his two career All-Pro selections (2020, 2022) and the $84 million contract on which he’s currently playing.
With Green Bay looking to get out of the Alexander business and Minnesota seeking an upgrade at cornerback, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports authored a trade pitch Wednesday that meets both teams’ needs. “Would the Packers prefer to deal their former star inside the NFC North? Probably not.
But the Vikings have pulled this before, convincing the Detroit Lions to cough up T.J. Hockenson,” Benjamin wrote. ”
And if Minnesota can’t retain some of its top free agents in the secondary, including No. 1 corner Byron Murphy Jr. and emergent safety Camryn Bynum, they could pivot to give coordinator Brian Flores an even higher-upside option.”
