The cornerback position has been a struggle in the Twin Cities for quite some time. This past offseason, the decision-makers re-signed Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. as his two-year deal had expired. They added free agent Isaiah Rodgers as his running mate. Despite a poor outing against the Eagles, Rodgers has been a terrific signing overall.
One Way or Another, It’s Time for the Vikings to Try a Backup
Much more concerning is the third cornerback spot. Jeff Okudah was acquired in free agency. He signed a cheap one-year deal, and the Vikings hoped they could unlock his third-overall-pick potential. Well, seven games into the season, it’s time to say that they cannot.
Okudah has mightily struggled, and whenever he enters the game, opposing quarterbacks look his way. The Vikings’ saving grace is their love of three-safety looks, which has limited Okudah’s reps. He’s played in six games, appearing on 93 defensive snaps.
In his limited snaps, Okudah has gotten a PFF grade of 32.4. Those should always be taken with a grain of salt, but that’s one of the worst grades in the NFL regardless of position. He’s also credited with 12 targets, allowing 11 catches for 175 yards and one touchdown, resulting in a passer rating of 146.5, coming close enough to a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
And then there’s the concussion problem. Okudah missed a game earlier in the season due to a concussion. He was also ruled out against the Chargers with another concussion. Often, a second concussion in the same season leads to a longer absence. The Vikings put center Ryan Kelly on IR this season. In 2022, Akayleb Evans was held out for a while.
Whether the concussion will hold him out or not, the CB3 in the next game should be backup Dwight McGlothern. It’s time to see what he can do because Okudah simply hasn’t been good enough to earn any more snaps.
The sophomore has played 50 defensive snaps in his career, with 30 of those coming this season.
The first time Okudah was set to miss time, defensive coordinator Brian Flores said at a presser, “Yeah, I mean, we got Nudie (Dwight McGlothern). Nudie obviously had a really good training camp and he’s somebody we feel good about. So in those situations, he would go. [Okudah] is in the protocol. We’ll take that day-by-day and see how that all shakes out, but Nudie would be the first guy that comes to mind. And [we] got a lot of confidence in him.”
McGlothern (nicknamed Nudie) was a 2024 undrafted free agent, and the Vikings lured him to the Twin Cities. He’s been a real summer star, but the opportunities in actual football games just haven’t been there for the second-year player.
His 2025 tape didn’t quite match the level of performance he achieved in his 2024 exhibitions, but McGlothern still has an excellent track record in August, having been targeted a total of 13 times over the last two preseasons for eight catches and 65 yards. He also snatched one interception, and the passer rating allowed is an embarrassing (for the passer) 42.1.
Can he play worse than Okudah? Things can always get worse, but it’s worth a try. He’s the only cornerback on the 53-man roster behind the two starters and Okudah.
McGlothern is 23 years old and it’s time to give him a shot.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
