Vikings excited by Stephon Gilmore’s addition, what it means for the defense

It’s always a good day when you can add a former Defensive Player of the Year to your team but the Minnesota Vikings are especially excited about what Stephon Gilmore’s addition can mean for the rest of their defense.

Gilmore, a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler who turns 34 next month, officially joined the Vikings on Monday, a week after visiting the team .

Related: Vikings make Gilmore signing official, add WR, end punting competition

His skills and familiarity with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and his defense should immediately make him a starter, and should also allow Flores to play more man coverage and mix up his play calls more frequently than last season.

“I know our coaching staff, (defensive coordinator Brian Flores), myself, we’re very, very excited to have him added to the group, a guy that as decorated as he is, coming off a really strong year in Dallas last year and will only add to the group,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said of Gilmore’s signing on Monday afternoon.

O’Connell noted that the Vikings have had interest in Gilmore dating back to free agency last year and were excited to be able to add someone of his caliber this late. The coach noted that’s why they wanted to get him in the building last week so that he could see everything they have to offer as he considered his options.

“A guy like that that’s played such good football for so long, a former Defensive Player of the Year, a lot of times those guys are gonna be selective about where they’re going to continue playing and that’s why I feel strongly. I know it was competitive,” O’Connell said.

The team is still determining how quickly to ramp up Gilmore’s workload and hasn’t yet decided if he’ll play in the final preseason game on Saturday but O’Connell noted there is plenty of time — nearly three weeks — before the regular season begins and they aren’t worried about anything mentally for him.

“It’ll just be physically how we want to handle his workload through this week, you know, on into the weekend and then what that looks like, and then making sure we’re maximizing next week as well before we get into the game week,” O’Connell said.

Aside from his individual play, though, O’Connell said he really believes Gilmore can help take Minnesota’s defense to another level with his leadership and cultural fit.

“I think he’s got an unbelievable opportunity to impact our team with the type of person and player and leader that he’s always been. I think he’s going to be able to have a huge impact on our team.”

With Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin expected to start on the outside and Byron Murphy Jr. in the slot, the Vikings also now have to rely less on the rest of the guys fighting for a spot to play such a key role, barring another injury of course. Still, O’Connell made clear on Monday that those depth guys still have a lot to fight for, saying the roster behind those top three isn’t yet set.

“There is a ton for guys still to be working towards and there’s a lot to still be determined with our final roster and practice squad,” the head coach said. “I would just say it’s been a competitive situation and that doesn’t really change. … My expectation is that that stays the same.”

That means it’s a big week for the likes of Akayleb Evans, Fabian Moreau, Dwight McGlothern, Nahshon Wright, A.J. Green III, Jaylin Williams, Jacobi Francis and Bobby McCain, although he’s still considered more of a safety.

Now, instead of perhaps trying to keep the best five or six corners overall, the team will be able to think about the different traits and abilities each have and how that could help in certain matchups and situations. The Vikings have nine games this season against offenses that were ranked in the top-15 overall in 2023, which doesn’t even the New York Jets getting Aaron Rodgers back, the Atlanta Falcons adding Kirk Cousins, the Arizona Cardinals pairing Marvin Harrison Jr. with a healthy Kyler Murray and the Chicago Bears’ revamped offense, who Minnesota will see twice.

“We know have the depth to really kind of allow ourselves to think about who’s gonna play what role within that room on all downs and what that looks like,” O’Connell said, adding, “and a lot to still be determined for sure.”

With the preseason quickly nearing an end, those decisions will have to be made soon. However, the Vikings have to be excited about the potential of a group that was already in the top-half of the league overall in Flores’ first season and just added arguably the top-remaining free agent to the fold.