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How Many Vikings Corners Cracked Distinguished List?
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- How Many Vikings Corners Cracked Distinguished List?
How Many Vikings Corners Cracked Distinguished List?
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
With Week 1 around the corner, analysts and publications are rushing to submit their final lists before the season begins. The Minnesota Vikings' secondary has playmakers in it. Couple the talent with Brian Flores' defensive scheme, and the opportunities to make plays will be there.
Bleacher Report has unveiled its lists for each position, and the discourse around who is ranked where is inevitable.
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BR explains the methodology: Cornerbacks are graded on five categories: man coverage, zone coverage, instincts (20 points apiece), plus run support and ball skills, which are weighted by alignment—boundary corners carry ball skills at 25 and run support at 15, while nickel corners are graded evenly at 20 across the board.
The tiers are broken up between development/backups, replacement level, functional performers, reliable contributors, critical roster pieces, high-quality starters, Pro Bowl caliber, and All-Pro caliber.
The good news for the Vikings? They don't have any players listed in the developmental and replacement tiers. Isaiah Rodgers cracks the list as a functional performer at number 56, just ahead of New Orleans ' Kool Aid-Mckinstry, with a grade of 72. After his 2025 season, this is an appropriate ranking.
One of the Vikings' additions in the offseason falls into the critical roster piece list. James Pierre had an excellent 2025 season in Pittsburgh before signing with the Vikings this offseason. The reason for his departure is the amount of talent the Steelers have in the secondary. Pierre is a good player and proved it last season. Minnesota believed in Pierre and rewarded him with a contract. With an overall grade of 75, Pierre is boundary corner number 25.
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Pierre isn't alone in the critical roster group. Byron Murphy Jr joins Pierre coming in at number 26 with an overall grade of 77, which ranks him as 16th boundary corner. Murphy Jr is just ahead of Joey Porter Jr , who is seeking a contract extension from the Steelers. Without question, Murphy Jr is the Vikings best player in the secondary.
With Flores' innovation as a defensive play caller and the skills of the Vikings secondary, 2026 could be a special season. The pass rush and blitz gets the attention in Minnesota, but the group of Rodgers, Pierre, and Murphy Jr are set for huge seasons in 2026.
