The Minnesota Vikings cornerback room took a significant hit with former first-round pick Jeff Okudah being placed on the injured reserve list. In response, the team signed veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau to the active roster ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, November 8, after entering concussion protocol for the second time this season. As a result, he will miss at least the next four games. The Vikings had been hoping to get more from the former Detroit Lions first-rounder this season.
Meanwhile, Fabian Moreau is preparing for his second game as the Vikings’ No. 3 cornerback after spending time on the practice squad earlier this season. Moreau impressed last week during Minnesota’s win over the Lions, playing 24 of a possible 64 snaps and not allowing a single catch on the lone target thrown his way. He posted an overall grade of 73.4 and currently ranks 38th among all cornerbacks.
In stark contrast, Okudah has struggled this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranks 187th out of 189 graded cornerbacks with a defensive grade of just 32.4.
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### Vikings’ Visit With Top Free Agent CB Asante Samuel Jr.
The Vikings are clearly eager to improve their cornerback room, as evidenced by their recent visit with free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. Samuel was one of six top free agents to host visits last week. A 2021 second-round pick, Samuel was ranked the No. 14 overall free agent by ESPN entering the offseason but faced uncertainty after undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
During his four years with the Los Angeles Chargers, Samuel established himself as a premier playmaker with six interceptions and 26 pass breakups. This week, he was cleared for football activities. However, his return to the field remains uncertain, as he still faces the challenge of getting back into game shape.
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport addressed Samuel’s situation on “The Power Trip” morning show, saying, “Without getting too deep into the weeds on the nature of the injury, it is something very serious and very scary that he is coming back from. He had surgery, and this is not an injury that a lot of doctors thought a surgery was going to be able to fully fix.”
Rapoport continued, “It’s not just a matter of his doctors clearing him, it’s a team medical staff clearing him. When you’re talking about a neck or spine issue, those are really sensitive topics.”
“That doesn’t mean the Vikings or someone else won’t sign him. But this isn’t just him meeting with the coaching staff and deciding where to go. Teams want to put him through a battery of tests and make their own determinations,” he added. “There are 32 team doctors with 32 degrees of risk tolerance. Everybody’s going to make their own judgment because this is something pretty significant.”
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### Is Fabian Moreau an Upgrade Over Jeff Okudah?
At first glance, Fabian Moreau appears to be an improvement over Jeff Okudah for the Vikings secondary. Okudah has been prone to giving up at least one big play (20+ yards) per game this season. In four of the six games played, he surrendered explosive plays and has allowed an average of 15.9 yards per reception.
On the other hand, Moreau tends to allow more short catches underneath. In 2024, he has allowed seven receptions on 10 targets for 67 yards, including two touchdowns, with an average of 9.6 yards per catch in coverage.
While Okudah has given up deep completions, he has only surrendered one touchdown so far this season. He also stands out for his physicality and tackling ability, posting an 83.2 tackling grade that ranks fifth among all cornerbacks. Okudah has allowed just 27 yards after the catch this entire season.
In summary, Okudah may give up more explosive plays, but he tends to be “stickier” in coverage near the line of scrimmage. Conversely, Moreau may be more reliable against deep passes but is more vulnerable to intermediate and short completions.
For Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, it’s a pick-your-poison scenario as the team looks to improve its secondary. For now, the risk with Moreau could be “death by a thousand cuts,” as opposing offenses might try to exploit underneath coverage.
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The Vikings’ cornerback situation remains a work in progress, with the team hoping to find consistency and playmakers in the weeks ahead.
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