Yardbarker
x
Should the Vikings bring back Xavier Rhodes?
Former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Should the Vikings bring back Xavier Rhodes?

The Minnesota Vikings already have one longtime veteran cornerback in Patrick Peterson starting on one side of their veteran defense. What is wrong with two? 

Yes, the team did draft Clemson's Andrew Boothe Jr. in the second round of April's NFL Draft. Yes, the team signed veteran slot cornerback Chandon Sullivan earlier this offseason. Also, Cameron Dantzler was an All-Rookie performer two seasons ago. But with roughly $9.7M in cap space, why not be as aggressive as possible in a division with Aaron Rodgers? 

This is where Xavier Rhodes comes in.

All Vikings fans remember Rhodes as a cornerstone piece of their defense for seven seasons before moving on to play for the Indianapolis Colts each of the last two seasons. The former Florida State star is a former three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro. 

His best season came in 2016 when he put up 52 tackles, 11 passes defended, and a career-high five interceptions. He started 97 games out of the 104 total that he played in. He has over 90 passes defensed in his NFL career and over 450 total tackles. He will be entering his 10th overall season in the National Football League.

If the Vikings decided to offer Rhodes a contract, it would most likely be a one-year deal for the 32 year old. But he played against Aaron Rodgers for seven seasons. He is a bigger cornerback (6-foot-1, 218 pounds), which is very useful in the NFL nowadays. 

Yes, the Minnesota cornerback room would be very crowded. However, it would be all the more talented. Especially in a division that no longer has Davante Adams and Allen Robinson, the addition of Rhodes would shutdown any talk of Minnesota having an underwhelming pass defense.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.