ESPN news: Vikings star man named the best top fit for a $39 million CB.

The talent and performance of the secondary have not significantly improved despite the Minnesota Vikings’ years-long efforts to enhance it.

Even after Minnesota looked to the NFL draft once more in 2024 to boost the secondary, ESPN analyst Matt Bowen recently indicated the Vikings as the best team fit for a couple of remaining free agents, including former New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

In the fourth round of the April draft, cornerback Khyree Jackson of Oregon was selected by the Vikings. At 6-foot-4, he is physically fit and tall enough to pose a threat to wide receivers, according to Bowen’s post from Monday, May 20. However, in order to field an aggressive defensive under coordinator Brian Flores that will heat up the pocket, more cornerback depth is still required. Minnesota topped the NFL last season with a 49.4% blitz percentage. That’s a zone and man pressure combo that complements Adoree’ Jackson’s aggressive covering style and eyes.

Throughout his NFL career, Adoree’ Jackson has been a reliable cover cornerback despite the lack of splash plays.

Bowen continued, “Jackson should be able to add more big plays to a resume that doesn’t have too many of them with Flores’ scheme.”

Bowen went on, “Jackson can compete in the Minnesota secondary this summer, and the scheme can put him in a position to create plays, even with a lack of ball productivity (four career interceptions).

Jackson hasn’t produced many spectacular flash plays, such as interceptions (4) or defensive touchdowns (1), but he has been comparatively reliable in preventing opposing quarterbacks from completing more passes than many of his peers. In three of the previous six seasons, Jackson has limited opposition quarterback completion percentages to less than 56.5%, including percentages of 52.1% and 51.7% in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

with the final of his three seasons with New York, Jackson’s performance was lower last year, allowing a combined completion percentage of 65.9% and a collective passer rating of 95.5.

Adoree’ Jackson Makes Sense at the Appropriate Price for the Suffering Vikings Secondary

Formerly selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round in 2017 (at selection No. 18 overall) out of USC, Jackson inked a three-year contract worth a total of $39 million to become a Giant in March 2021.

The 29-year-old cornerback will be more appealing to a team in need of a CB, such as the Vikings, who have been emphasizing the rebuilding of their squad with younger players ever since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah assumed leadership of the team prior to the 2022 season.

With less than $16.7 million in salary cap space left for the 2024 season as of Monday, Spotrac puts Jackson’s market value at $10.4 million annually on a new three-year deal (more than $31 million overall). This is probably too much for a Minnesota team.

That is not to say the Vikings won’t make additional investments in their group of defensive backs. The fact that Bowen even suggested the team keep looking at cornerback free agents come summertime is a testament to how urgently more depth at the position is needed.

Last season, Minnesota’s pass defense was 24th in the NFL, allowing opposing offenses to gain 3,986 yards via the air (or 234.5 yards per game).

That number has to go up in 2024, which is concerning given the improved quarterback play in the NFC North Division. Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears’ first-round pick, Jordan Love, the Green Bay Packers’ more seasoned player, and the Detroit Lions’ recently-signed $212 million extension after what was arguably his second-best season ever, are just a few examples of the improved QB talent in the division.