The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation has been a major storyline early in the offseason, but their defensive secondary is another area that requires urgent attention. With the possibility of losing their top three cornerbacks in free agency, the Vikings must address this critical position to remain competitive in 2025. Pro Football Talk’s Ben Rolfe has suggested that Minnesota could pursue Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III, a move that would help stabilize a depleted unit.
Davis, 28, entered the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2018 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he spent the first six seasons of his career. During his time in Tampa, he established himself as a capable, physical cornerback, playing a key role in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2020. However, following the 2023 campaign, the Bucs decided to move on, trading him to the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2024 season.
Now, after just one season in Detroit, Davis could be on the move again. Minnesota’s need for reinforcements at cornerback makes him a potential target, particularly given the team’s financial flexibility. According to Rolfe, the Vikings must fill multiple roster holes—not just at cornerback but also at guard, running back, and on the defensive line. However, with ample cap space available, they are in a strong position to make key additions.
“A compelling option for the Vikings is Carlton Davis, who is projected to command under $14 million per year,” Rolfe wrote on February 19. “That’s a much more reasonable contract than bringing back Byron Murphy, whose projected annual salary exceeds $22 million. Signing Davis at a lower cost could allow Minnesota to add multiple veteran pieces to strengthen the position.”
One of Davis’ strongest selling points is that he is coming off the best statistical season of his career in terms of quarterback rating allowed. When healthy, he has proven to be a high-level defensive asset, capable of matching up with top wide receivers. However, injury concerns could make his market unpredictable.
Spotrac projects Davis’ next contract to be in the range of three years and $41.3 million, which might be seen as a significant financial commitment for a player with his injury history. Over his career, Davis has earned nearly $50 million, but durability has been an ongoing concern. He has never played more than 14 games in a season since 2020 and has been sidelined with various injuries throughout his career. In 2024, he played 13 games for the Lions but missed time due to a knee issue.
“Durability will be the big question for Davis,” Rolfe noted. “He has missed games every season of his NFL career, including 13 over the past three years.”
Despite these concerns, Davis put together a strong statistical season in 2024. He recorded 56 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble. His coverage stats were solid as well, allowing a 55.3% completion rate on 42 targets, which ranked 18th among all defenders who faced at least as many targets, according to Stathead.
Financially, the Vikings are expected to have approximately $63.3 million in cap space this offseason, per Over The Cap. This should give them the flexibility to make multiple key additions, but they also have several difficult decisions ahead.
Their secondary is in a state of transition, with multiple starters potentially departing. Murphy, Shaquill Griffin, and Stephon Gilmore are all free agents, leaving the Vikings with very little returning depth at cornerback. The team does have 2023 third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon, but he missed the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL, making it difficult to project how much he can contribute next season.
Beyond Blackmon, Minnesota has a few developmental prospects, including coaching staff favorite Dwight McGlothern and former Chicago Bears undrafted free agent Reddy Steward. However, they lack another experienced cornerback under contract for 2025 who actually played for them in 2024.
Compounding these challenges, the Vikings could also see turnover at the safety position. Camryn Bynum is set to become a free agent and could be expendable if Minnesota prioritizes bringing back Murphy instead. Meanwhile, longtime veteran Harrison Smith, who has been a leader in the secondary for over a decade, is a candidate to retire following his 13th NFL season. The team’s third safety, Josh Metellus, could be in line for a pay raise as he heads into the final year of his contract, further complicating the Vikings’ financial decisions.
The Vikings are already bracing for potential changes at quarterback, running back, and across the offensive line this offseason. Given the looming departures in the secondary, it appears that the backend of their defense will also undergo a significant transformation.
This situation creates a clear path for Carlton Davis III to be a key offseason acquisition. While his injury history poses a risk, he remains one of the top available cornerbacks when healthy. If the Vikings can sign him to a reasonable deal, he could provide much-needed stability in a secondary that is set to experience major turnover.
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