The Vikings built a wall for J.J. McCarthy with Jackson & Kelly, but did they ignore a critical defensive weakness? Analysts raise cornerback concerns for 2024.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Happy Fourth of July, Skol Nation! While the fireworks light up the sky, the Vikings front office has been busy creating its own explosions, completely reshaping the offensive line to protect their new franchise quarterback, J.J. McCarthy. But as the dust settles, a critical question emerges, echoed by national analysts: In their quest to build a fortress for the offense, did they leave the back door unlocked on defense?
'I wish that they had added another corner.' - ESPN's Mina Kimes
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made it crystal clear that the protection breakdowns seen against the Lions and Rams last season would not be tolerated. The Vikings have officially moved on from center Garrett Bradbury and guard Ed Ingram, shipping Ingram to the Texans. In their place comes a brand new interior: veteran center Ryan Kelly, free agent guard Will Fry, and, most excitingly, first-round powerhouse Donovan Jackson. The message is simple: J.J. McCarthy will have time to throw, and the running game will have lanes. After years of watching the pocket collapse from the inside out, this aggressive overhaul is a welcome sight for a team banking its future on a rookie QB.
While the offense got a facelift, the defense is raising some eyebrows. On a recent podcast appearance, ESPN's Mina Kimes praised Byron Murphy's 2024 performance but voiced serious concerns about the cornerback room's lack of size and depth. Her pointed analysis, culminating in her wish that the team had added another corner, highlights the biggest 'what if' hanging over this roster. With a schedule featuring killers like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, the current group of corners will be tested early and often. The pressure is on for someone to step up opposite Murphy.
This lack of proven depth at corner puts an immense amount of pressure on defensive coordinator Brian Flores. We know he loves to bring the heat with aggressive, blitz-heavy schemes, but that style leaves cornerbacks on an island. It's a high-risk, high-reward strategy that relies on corners winning their one-on-one matchups. Last year, it created chaos and turnovers. This year, against top-tier quarterbacks who can diagnose and exploit mismatches, it could be a liability if the personnel isn't up to the task. Flores's ability to scheme around this potential weakness will be just as important as McCarthy's development.
The battle lines for the 2025 season are drawn. The Vikings have invested heavily in protecting their franchise quarterback, creating a formidable interior offensive line. But the question that will echo until Week 1 is whether they've left their defense too vulnerable. As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on the secondary to see if a hidden gem can emerge, or if Brian Flores' schematic genius is enough to mask a potential Achilles' heel against a gauntlet of elite quarterbacks.
