Minnesota Vikings head coach, Kevin O'Connell on January 5, 2025.
The Minnesota Vikings‘ cornerback room was thin after the team surprisingly traded away third-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon.
A 2023 third-round pick, Blackmon flashed in his rookie year and was poised to start in 2024 as a prototype Brian Flores cornerback. An ACL tear at the start of training camp changed that trajectory for Blackmon, who never caught on this summer coming off the knee injury.
The Vikings dealt him to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick on Monday, August 25, the day before the 53-man roster deadline.
Left with just four cornerbacks on the active roster, the Vikings sought a reunion to bolster their depth in the secondary, signing Fabian Moreau to their practice squad on Wednesday, August 27.
Moreau played in seven games for the Vikings last season. He was the first cornerback to step in for starter Stephon Gilmore when the five-time Pro Bowler missed two games with a hamstring injury. Moreau spent the summer with the San Francisco 49ers but did not make the final roster.
Vikings GM Unconcerned With CB Depth After Moreau Signing
GettyMinnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on before a game against the Green Bay Packers.
As the Vikings cornerback room stands, Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers are the starting duo, with Jeff Okudah and Dwight McGlothern as their backups. Tavierre Thomas was listed as a safety on the initial roster but is poised to fill a nickel corner role.
The No. 3 overall pick in 2020, Okudah, was the wild card entering training camp due to his injury history. McGlothern, in his second year after going undrafted, has not played a single regular-season snap on defense.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked about depth at cornerback and noted the Moreau signing to the practice squad and Flores using safeties as the third nickel corner often.
Asked about the fact that there are only 4 cornerbacks on the active roster, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah notes that veteran Fabian Moreau is on the practice squad. Also notes the Vikings sometimes use "Big Nickel," with a safety rather than a cornerback.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) August 28, 2025
It seems that the Vikings are content with their cornerback room, although several veterans familiar with Flores’ system are available in free agency, namely Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin, who was cut by the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.
Harrison Smith Health Update Causes Some Concern for Vikings Secondary
GettyHarrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings is facing personal health challenges that could impact his availability for the 2025 season.
The cornerback room concerns aren’t separate from the rest of the secondary.
According to Seifert, Harrison Smith, who missed the past two weeks of practice, is dealing with a “personal health issue.” He is expected to make a full recovery but will be evaluated weekly.
Smith, 36, is entering the final year of his contract in what could be his final season as a pro.
Flores’ defense demands a lot from its safeties, with Josh Metellus, Camryn Bynum and Smith all playing over 1,000 snaps each of the past two seasons. Theo Jackson is stepping into Bynum’s role after Bynum signed with the Indianapolis Colts during the offseason.
If Smith were to miss any time, third-year safety Jay Ward or Thomas would be the next man up.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire