Latest news with #Okudah
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What is the biggest remaining position battle for the Minnesota Vikings?
The Vikings have several positions where the water is murky, and they are trying to decipher what is going to happen with it. One of the positions is cornerback, where the team has some new faces thanks to some players getting healthy and others being signed. They brought in Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers in free agency. They get Mekhi Blackmon back from injury, and with those pieces, they believe their secondary should be in good shape. However, for those on the outside looking in, the position remains one that needs to be solved with all those pieces playing a part. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton broke down each team's biggest positional battle. The Vikings discussed the ongoing CB2 battle. He writes, "Based on preseason Week 1 usage and snap count, the Minnesota Vikings had a clear pecking order for the No. 2 and 3 cornerback spots. Rodgers and Okudah took the field with some starters, and Blackmon saw extended time with most of the backups. . .Coming off a torn ACL, Blackmon may need time to remind everyone of the player who showed promise in the Vikings' secondary two years ago. For now, you can pencil in Rodgers and Okudah at cornerback alongside Byron Murphy Jr." The Vikings' secondary is likely to be an issue early in the season until they find their cohesion. Once they do, and aleader from this group emerges, they should be in good shape. Thankfully, Brian Flores remains their defensive coordinator so his pressure and scheme will make up for a lot of their shortcomings.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What is the Minnesota Vikings best case scenario on defense in 2025?
Brian Flores has had to compensate for a lack of pass-rushing defensive linemen by blitzing heavily in two seasons as Vikings defensive coordinator. He's hoping his new defensive tackles can help provide a more well-rounded attack. The Vikings are expecting Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to return to their pre-injury forms and provide the defense with an interior pass-rush the team hasn't had in several seasons. If they can do that, the Vikings can help mask an unproven secondary and improve on a defense that flashed brilliance in 2024 despite its shortcomings. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggests that the best-case scenario for the Vikings' defense this season is that their defensive front lives up to expectations, supporting EDGE rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Biggest Need: Cornerback Best-Case Scenario: Dominant Front Helps Questionable Secondary Look Elite Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. No one dials up pressures like Flores and the Vikings defense benefitted from his aggressive style. The Vikings were sixth in pressure percentage and had the No. 1 defense in EPA per rush. Now imagine that front with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave added to the middle. There's no question corner is the biggest question on the Vikings defense. They added Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to be presumptive starters on the outside with Byron Murphy Jr. as the slot corner. Ideally, Rodgers and Okudah would put together career years playing behind a defensive line that should dominate. The Vikings are likely hoping and expecting third-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who suffered a torn ACL last season, to start in front of Okudah. Blackmon showed promise as a rookie in 2023, and Okudah feels like a low-risk signing that the Vikings are taking a flyer on. Regardless of who starts opposite Murphy, the Vikings will need Allen and Hargrave to stay healthy and produce despite their age. They are both over 30, and that can impact their ability, regardless of their injury status.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former top draft pick Jeff Okudah is visiting the Vikings today
Every member of the Minnesota Vikings cornerback group was a free agent in 2025. They brought back their star in Byron Murphy Jr., who had seven interceptions in 2024, and they also signed Super Bowl-winning defensive back Isaiah Rodgers. They need to bring in more pierces still and they hosting one potential player who could be a project for Brian Flores and his staff. Former third overall pick to the division rival Detroit Lions, Jeff Okudah, is visiting the Vikings facility today. Okudah, who was an All-American when he left Ohio State for the NFL, has been with three NFL teams in his career. After the Lions decided to move on from him in 2022, he would join the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans on one-year deals. Those stops didn't work out for Okudah, and perhaps now he finds his fourth home in as many years. Brian Flores has been known to get the most out of his defensive backs and someone with the talent of Okudah could be just what the doctor ordered for him. In turn, he would help the Vikings trot out another dominant secondary, just as they did in 2024. CB Jeff Okudah has started his free agent visit with the #Vikings. — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 17, 2025 This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: A former top draft is visiting the Vikings during free agency
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former top draft pick Jeff Okudah is visiting the Vikings today
Former top draft pick Jeff Okudah is visiting the Vikings today Every member of the Minnesota Vikings cornerback group was a free agent in 2025. They brought back their star in Byron Murphy Jr., who had seven interceptions in 2024, and they also signed Super Bowl-winning defensive back Isaiah Rodgers. They need to bring in more pierces still and they hosting one potential player who could be a project for Brian Flores and his staff. Former third overall pick to the division rival Detroit Lions, Jeff Okudah, is visiting the Vikings facility today. Okudah, who was an All-American when he left Ohio State for the NFL, has been with three NFL teams in his career. After the Lions decided to move on from him in 2022, he would join the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans on one-year deals. Those stops didn't work out for Okudah, and perhaps now he finds his fourth home in as many years. Brian Flores has been known to get the most out of his defensive backs and someone with the talent of Okudah could be just what the doctor ordered for him. In turn, he would help the Vikings trot out another dominant secondary, just as they did in 2024.
