Vikings Eye Rasul Douglas to Bolster Thin Cornerback Depth
The Minnesota Vikings are entering the 2025 season with legitimate concerns at cornerback, and a potential solution may come in the form of a seasoned free agent: former Bills and Packers starter Rasul Douglas. With key players like Shaquill Griffin gone to Seattle and Stephon Gilmore unlikely to return, the Vikings' secondary is in need of reinforcements. While Byron Murphy Jr. has been retained to hold down the slot, questions remain about who will lock down the outside.
Currently, Minnesota is banking on a trio of Mekhi Blackmon, Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah. But each of these options comes with caveats. Blackmon is working his way back from an ACL tear. Rodgers, while promising, has mostly served as a backup, and Okudah—once a top draft pick—has yet to live up to expectations across multiple stops.
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This brings us to Rasul Douglas. Though he's coming off a rocky 2024 campaign in Buffalo, where he allowed a career-worst 72.9% completion rate and a 122 passer rating, he proved in 2023 that he can still be a difference-maker. That season, Douglas posted elite numbers: a 51.3% completion rate allowed and a stingy 38.6 passer rating across nine games after being traded from Green Bay.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report recently pointed out that Douglas could be an ideal veteran addition to Minnesota’s cornerback room. Even if he doesn't win a starting job outright, his presence would provide valuable depth and competition. For a team with playoff aspirations and a defense still under construction, that type of insurance could be crucial.
Financially, Douglas is not likely to command the same value he once had—despite a Spotrac projection of $35.7 million over three years. At 31, and coming off a down year, Douglas might be available on a one-year, prove-it deal. For Minnesota, that’s a classic low-risk, high-reward move.
Of course, the Vikings also need to be careful with their cap situation. While they have room now, looming deficits in 2026 and the potential need to sign a veteran backup QB behind J.J. McCarthy could limit their flexibility. Still, adding a player like Douglas now could prevent bigger problems later in the year.
If Douglas can come anywhere close to his 2023 performance, he could stabilize a shaky position group and add a veteran voice to a young, unproven unit. Whether as a starter, backup, or locker room leader, Rasul Douglas could be just what the Vikings need to bring some confidence back to their secondary.
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