Former Defensive Player of the Year CB Visiting Minnesota Vikings on Monday

The Minnesota Vikings have dealt with an unpredictable blow to their cornerback group before the season has even started. A defensive back group that had an overflowing amount of competition was suddenly lightened with Khyree Jackson’s passing and Mekhi Blackmon’s season-ending injury.

Sure, there’s always the next man up. This meant players such as Akayleb Evans, Duke Shelley, Fabian Moreau, Nahshon Wright , and UDFA Dwight McGlothern were all getting a bigger opportunity to earn a role on Brian Flores’ defense. However, now there’s a new contender who will immediately earn a starting job if the Vikings can get the deal done.

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Two-time All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore visiting Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings will have Byron Murphy Jr as one starter. Former Pro Bowl corner Shaq Griffin is expected to be another, but that may be out of necessity, with no other strong contender emerging. But what about adding a two-time All-Pro cornerback like Stephon Gilmore? Previously, the idea of adding the former Defensive Player of the Year has only been a pipe dream. But the Vikings may be on the verge of turning this dream into reality.

According to NFL insider Josina Anderson , Gilmore will visit the Vikings on Monday. He’ll fly out on Sunday and arrive in Eagan on Monday. He’ll presumably either go through a brief workout or possibly just head to the contract negotiation table with the Vikings’ front office.

It helps that there’s already some familiarity with the Brian Flores system. The two crossed paths with the New England Patriots for two years between 2017-18. It was his final year with Flores when Gilmore became a first-team All-Pro, and earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl. The very next year, Gilmore won Defensive Player of the Year with an NFL-high six interceptions and 20 pass deflections.

• Stephon Gilmore stats (career): 158 starts, 561 tackles, 31 INT, 2 TD, 140 PD, 7 FF

While Gilmore is now 33 years old, he still started all 17 games for a Dallas Cowboys defense that was the fifth-best pass D in the NFL last season. Gilmore earned positive marks from Pro Football Focus, with a 74.4 grade . That’s the highest grade among any current Vikings corners, with only Mekhi Blackmon’s 71.8 grade coming close.

So there’s no question he’ll be a starter. But first things first, the Vikings have to reach an agreement with Gilmore at the negotiation table. Being that he’s already booked his trip, there shouldn’t be any issues with offering him fair market value. Otherwise, he likely wouldn’t even board the plane. According to Spotrac , the Vikings still have $17 million in cap space, so signing Gilmore shouldn’t be a problem.

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