Cornerback is far from a pressing need for the Vikings this offseason after they drafted Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes in the first round in 2013 and 2015, respectively, and bolstered their depth by bringing in veterans Captain Munnerlyn and Terence Newman the past couple of years.
But the Vikings could still draft a cornerback with an eye toward 2017.
Munnerlyn, who covers slot receivers in sub packages, is entering the final year of the three-year deal he signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2014. He turns 28 in a couple of days and next spring will be relatively young for a quality player who will be looking for this third contract in the NFL.
And if Munnerlyn in 2016 plays like he did in 2015, when he admittedly freelanced less than he did in his first season in Minnesota, the Vikings may well be open to being the team that gives him that third NFL contract.
Right now, they have no proven potential replacement on the roster.
Third-year cornerback Jabari Price has gotten significant reps in practices open to media as a slot defender. But the 2014 seventh-round draft pick has played just 46 defensive snaps in his two NFL seasons and he was not active on game day once last season, so he remains a relative unknown.
Newman can slide inside if needed, but he will turn 38 this September and hard work and red wine can only preserve his talents for so long.
So thus the Vikings could look for another young corner in the draft.
