What the signing of Stephon Gilmore means for the Vikings cornerback team

The Vikings are signing five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, according to various reports Sunday morning. About a week after visiting him and extending their offer, they’ve landed the starting outside corner they desperately needed.

Gilmore turns 34 in a month, but don’t be fooled: This is a big mid-August signing for Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores. Although he’s still in the traveling phase of his potential Hall of Fame career – Gilmore is joining his fifth team in as many seasons – he’s playing at a very high level year after year. In his last two seasons with the Cowboys and Colts, he hasn’t missed a single game and has earned strong PFF grades (79.1 in 2022, 74.4 last year).

At his age, a drop in performance is always possible, but there are no signs of that yet. Gilmore will likely slide right into the role of Flores, who was his defensive coordinator for two seasons in New England when he was at his peak. Flores wants to play more man coverage this season, and Gilmore is still capable of doing it effectively.

What does this signing mean for the Vikings’ broader cornerback room? In general, it raises both the floor and ceiling for Minnesota and makes all the other players fit into more natural roles. As long as he’s the same guy he was last year, Gilmore can basically be the CB1 and never have to come off the field. That leaves Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin (assuming he eventually recovers from his hamstring injury) battling for the other outside spot when the Vikings are in a big nickel group with Josh Metellus in the slot.

If the Vikings have three cornerbacks on the field, Murphy and Griffin can line up alongside Gilmore on the field. That could mean Metellus is on the bench, or it could happen in dime packages with three cornerbacks, three safeties, and probably just one of the two off-ball linebackers (Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman). By signing Gilmore, Flores is now significantly more versatile in what he can do. It’s a move that helps the entire defense make more sense, from the pass rush to the back end.

If Griffin is healthy, the other veteran walker the Vikings recently signed – Fabian Moreau – can be the CB4. He’s started 38 games over the past three seasons, but with mediocre grades, so that fits him better. Akayleb Evans, who has had plenty of work with the first-team defense since Mekhi Blackmon and Griffin were injured in training camp, is likely CB5. If the Vikings keep six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster, that final spot can go to someone like Duke Shelley or impressive undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern.

The Vikings have been overwhelmed at the cornerback position throughout training camp, but with Gilmore’s arrival, it’s clear that a solid group is forming at the position this year.