The Minnesota Vikings possess the 18th overall pick in April's draft , which, believe it or not, is actually prime territory to draft a cornerback this cycle. It's worth noting, though, that Minnesota has not successfully drafted a corner of any kind from any round in 11 years. If the club pursues free agency for one, there are a handful of decent options.
From Greg Newsome II to Riq Woolen , Minnesota has options that match Flores' preferences, price tiers, and outside corner needs.
Of course, the Vikings ' salary cap situation is grim as of mid-January, but most believe general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can pull off some wizardry soon to fix it.
The Vikings need another cornerback; perhaps free agency will be the path. Here are the best options ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best option). Also note: the Vikings won't target all of these players; this is a list of shopping options.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerbacks Greg Newsome II and Jarrian Jones celebrate after tight coverage forces an incompletion, swinging momentum on defense. With Dec. 14, 2025 placed mid-paragraph, EverBank Stadium buzzed as Jacksonville pulled away from New York, turning pass breakups into field position and control during a lopsided third-quarter stretch. © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
6. Greg Newsome II (JAX)
Age: 25
2025 Passer Rating Against: 100.7
2025 PFF Grade: 55.4
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 56.8
Estimated Market Value per Year: $9-$10M
Newsome II was a part of the Vikings' rumor mill last offseason and even before the NFL trade deadline, but nothing ever came of it. Yes, Minnesota featured a slender cornerback room in 2025 and somehow got away with it.
The Jaguars later acquired Newsome II via trade from the Browns, but it's unclear if he'll re-sign in Jacksonville. Newsome II has remained a popular Vikings target, at least in the court of public opinion, because Adofo-Mensah worked for the Browns when Cleveland drafted him.
5. Alontae Taylor (NO)
Age: 27
2025 Passer Rating Against: 98.2
2025 PFF Grade: 63.8
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 67.7
Estimated Market Value per Year: $11-$12M
Taylor has started over 50 games in New Orleans and is considered one of the top free-agent corners on the market. He also hasn't missed a game since 2023.
The former 2nd-Rounder certainly isn't a shutdown corner, but he's a playmaker and would give Minnesota three corners all of the same performance caliber: Byron Murphy Jr. , Isaiah Rodgers , and Taylor. Good-but-not-great defensive backs.
4. Jaylen Watson (KC)
Age: 27
2025 Passer Rating Against: 79.0
2025 PFF Grade: 74.9
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 69.4
Estimated Market Value per Year: $12-$13M
Watson was a 7th-Round find by the Chiefs in 2022. He's big for a cornerback at 6'2″ and 200 pounds, and Brian Flores tends to favor large boundary corners who play physically.
The numbers are there for Watson; his next team will just have to hope he doesn't go the way of former Chiefs CB La'Jarius Sneed , who left Kansas City and never found his footing with the Tennessee Titans .
3. Tariq Woolen (SEA)
Age: 26
2025 Passer Rating Against: 75.5
2025 PFF Grade: 61.2
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 61.7
Estimated Market Value per Year: $15-$17M
Woolen will be expensive, but he may be worth it. His team could win a Super Bowl in two weeks, which would catapult his free agency even higher.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen wraps up Alvin Kamara in the open field, halting forward progress early in the drive. Midway through the paragraph on Sep 21, 2025, Lumen Field framed a physical first-quarter sequence as Seattle's secondary closed quickly, limiting yards after contact against New Orleans' featured running back. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
He's also the biggest man on this at 6'4″ and 215 pounds. Woolen and Seattle's brass had a brief falling-out down the stretch of the 2024 season, culminating in a quick benching, yet he's fully regained his job in 2025.
The Seahawks may re-sign Woolen, which felt improbable a few months ago.
2. Montaric Brown (JAX)
Age: 26
2025 Passer Rating Against: 74.3
2025 PFF Grade: 72.8
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 75.5
Estimated Market Value per Year: $9-$10M
The Jaguars may re-up with Brown, like the Woolen-Seattle theory mentioned above. If they do not, some team will get a stellar defender in Brown. He's another 7th-Round steal from the 2022 draft class; too bad Minnesota didn't bring its game face to that draft.
Brown is 6'0″ and 190 pounds, flying under the radar in free agency, like Jaylen Watson, because of the late-round draft stock.
1. Cordale Flott (NYG)
Age: 24
2025 Passer Rating Against: 73.3
2025 PFF Grade: 66.9
2025 PFF Coverage Grade: 69.6
Estimated Market Value per Year: $9-$10M
Flott may be the almighty prize in terms of youth, affordability, and production.
A 3rd-Rounder from the 2022 NFL Draft, Flott has matured annually in New York. He's 6'2″ and 175 pounds — so, you know, lean — size that would work in Flores' system .
SNY.com's Alex Smith on Flott , "Perhaps the biggest reason the Giants should want to keep Flott in town is that other members of the secondary simply haven't performed, and Flott has easily been the most reliable player there. Big-money free agent acquisitions Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland have been mediocre at best, and Dru Phillips and Tyler Nubin are still works in progress."
"Flott's positional versatility should also work in his favor. While he split time between playing nickel and outside corner over his first three seasons, he took over for a struggling Deonte Banks at outside corner on a full-time basis in 2025, and he thrived."
New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott turns defense into offense, sprinting upfield after securing a late interception. With Oct 9, 2025 appearing mid-paragraph, MetLife Stadium reacted as Flott flipped possession in the fourth quarter, punctuating a critical sequence against Philadelphia with awareness, hands, and closing speed. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It's worth noting that casual NFL fans don't know much about Flott. He fits the Adofo-Mensah mold, like the Isaiah Rodgers signing in 2025.
Smith added, "He's now proven he can hold his own on the outside, and he can still kick inside if needed. NFL teams don't like to let good players leave the building. Flott is a good player, and as the Giants continue to build their young core and push forward towards a championship pursuit, Flott should be a part of it."
"Perhaps his value gets too high for New York to be comfortable, but outside of a team throwing crazy money at him, the Giants should look to bring Flott back to keep one of their only reliable secondary players under contract."
Flott will turn 25 in August. He has his entire prime in front of him.
