EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota coaches are combing over plans, players are reporting soon, and the mid-summer sun is near rising on Vikings 2025 Training Camp presented by Omni Viking Lakes Hotel.

The first public practice is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, as part of Back Together Weekend, which is presented by The Salvation Army. A total of 12 are scheduled to be open to fans, including joint sessions with the New England Patriots on Aug. 13-14. Ticket purchases and other information can be found here.

In preparation for the return of football, we started the positional previews Monday with quarterbacks. We followed with a look at receivers and tight ends before covering running backs and Minnesota’s offensive line. The front seven was grouped together to begin the discussion of the defense on Thursday.

Lastly, let's study the state of the Vikings secondary.

CORNERBACKS

RETURNEES: Mekhi Blackmon, Byron Murphy, Jr., and Dwight McGlothern

NEWCOMERS: Veterans Kahlef Hailassie (with Cleveland in 2024), Jeff Okudah (with Houston in 2024), Isaiah Rodgers (with Philadelphia in 2024), Reddy Steward (with Chicago in 2024), Ambry Thomas (spent final few weeks of 2024 season on Vikings practice squad); UDFAs Keenan Garber and Zemaiah Vaughn

PRIORITY RE-SIGNING: The Vikings placed an emphasis on re-signing Murphy, whose personal-best six interceptions in 2024 brought his career total to 14, and two-season Vikings total to nine, and led to his first Pro Bowl trip. Murphy added single-season career highs in tackles (81) and passes defended (14).

RESTOCK EFFORT: Rodgers has been on Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores' radar since the former played at Massachusetts and the latter was the New England Patriots linebackers coach. Okudah has battled through injuries early in his career but could help Minnesota's restocking efforts at corner.

2024 RECAP: Vikings cornerbacks accounted for nine of the team's league-leading 24 interceptions and 30 of the squad's NFL-high 95 passes defended. While Murphy played well on the outside and in the slot, often baiting quarterbacks into mistakes, he admittedly left other picks up for grabs. Overall, the perimeter defenders hung tough after rookie Khyree Jackson's tragic passing in July, and Blackmon's compounding ACL injury; Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau were essential to their rally.

KEY DEPARTURES: Gilmore and Griffin (with Seattle now) provided last year's cornerbacks room with invaluable insights and passing-grade ball skills. Soon to be 35 and 30 years old, they combined to intercept three passes and defend 15. Notably, they had win-sealing picks against the Jets and Cardinals.

SAFETIES

RETURNEES: Theo Jackson, Joshua Metellus, Harrison Smith and Jay Ward

NEWCOMERS: Veteran Tavierre Thomas (listed as a DB, with Tampa Bay in 2024); UDFA Mishael Powell

HIT-MAN-ME AGAIN: Smith is up to 192 career games – 200 including playoffs – over 13 seasons, and The Hitman is ready to impact games again. At 35 years old, he had 87 tackles, 10 PBUs and three picks.

ACTION TIME FOR JACKSON: Vikings fans have witnessed Metellus deployed in so many ways, and they've also seen Jackson deliver some splash plays even though his opportunities have been limited. If spring practices are an indicator, Jackson's on a hard-earned collision course for more defensive chances.

2024 RECAP: The three-man band of Metellus, Camryn Bynum and Smith was harmonious as ever, pooling together 286 tackles, 25 passes defended and eight interceptions. Frequently on the field at once, with Metellus embracing a larger box role, they ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th in tackles and finished within 100 snaps of each other (Bynum was No. 2 on the Vikings at 1,032; only Murphy logged more).

KEY DEPARTURES: Bynum left for the Colts in free agency after playing 1,000-plus snaps on defense every season since 2022. His locker room charisma and viral takeaway celebrations inspired by early 2000s pop culture was as inspiring as his durability and penchant for making plays in big moments. Bobby McCain's contract expired after a season leading the Vikings scout defense and filling in in a pinch.

3 Key Questions for Vikings cornerbacks and safeties

1. How will youth supplant experience?

The age disparity is jarring.

Smith is 36. He's got seven years on Thomas, who's the next oldest player in Minnesota's backend. After him, there's several 27-year-olds – Metellus, Murphy and Rodgers – who are expected to be major contributors, and a deep bag of guys aged 26 and younger who are approaching their physical primes.

There's a lot to like about having little wear and tear on the legs, coachable skill sets and hungry mindsets. But there's natural trepidation regarding a general lack of experience, as well. Entering 2025 training camp, the club's 10 cornerbacks have made 264 combined appearances and 138 starts. Murphy is credited with one third of the former and 57 percent of the latter – no less, his 14 picks is six more than the lot (Rodgers has three; Okudah and Thomas have two; Blackmon has one). It's a stark contrast to the primary corners last year, when Murphy was the "youngin" in comparison to Gilmore and Griffin.

Smith's vault of wisdom infinitely helps the Vikings last line of defense, but, still, it's likely Jackson, 26, and perhaps even Ward, 25, are thrust into the main fold from special teams, and depended on greater.

They've played 285 snaps on defense to date, about as many as Smith played his first four career games.

2. Who takes on the mantle of "celebration coordinator" for the Vikings?

Someone will be fast-tracked to fill Bynum's role on defense – but what about replacing his other job?

Practicing, perfecting and executing the complex dance moves Bynum used to win over the hearts of football and non-football fans, alike, sounds like a harder task than running the alley and limiting action in the deep part of the field. It's an element of fun that was important, as it went a long way in 2024 in shaping a culture of brotherhood that felt impermeable to opponent fortune and external skepticism.

Although it's unclear who gets the baton and tries to emulate Bynum's charm, Metellus is maybe the odds-on favorite thanks to his involvement in takeaway skits last year. Also, Murphy commented on the subject during the offseason program, sharing there's a group text brainstorm amongst the secondary.

Because it's a tight-knit cornerbacks and safeties room, the collaboration is a promising sign. So is encouragement from Flores, who is a proponent of the co-opted cellies and what they do for the whole.

"My hope is that we build a team that's unselfish, that is looking for, not necessarily the accolades for themselves but the accolades for the group," Flores said last month, adding he leaves it in the players' hands to determine how they celebrate. "Last year, they came up with dances to build that rapport. I don't know. Who knows what it'll be this year. But that energy, that vibe, it's something that's exciting."

3. Which under-the-radar players could emerge?

For starters, let's highlight Rodgers.

A Super Bowl champion with Philadelphia, the 2020 sixth-round draft pick of the Colts played his way onto Flores' radar years ago, and yet his spring signing with the Vikings didn't result in that much hype.

Rodgers was a spot starter for the Eagles and technically their No. 4 cornerback in 2024, behind rookie phenoms Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and six-time Pro Bowl honoree Darius Slay.

Now, with a Lombardi under his belt, plus a change of scenery and chance to lead, Rodgers is one to watch. He's fast with a sturdy frame and has good instincts in coverage and intriguing kick-return chops.

In addition to Rodgers, Blackmon and Okudah will attempt to rewrite their career arcs. Blackmon made three starts as a rookie in 2023 and was in position to compete for more opportunities in 2024 before going down on the opening day of camp. The third-round selection was effusively praised by Flores and teammates for his rehabilitation focus and now can positively spin his story with a convincing preseason.

Okudah is only about a month older than Blackmon but has three times the NFL experience, starting 31 of 44 games for Detroit, Atlanta and Houston. The No. 3 overall pick by the Lions in 2020 enjoyed his top season, statistically, in 2022 when he compiled 73 tackles, seven PBUs, one pick and one forced fumble.

One very under-the-radar name to be aware of is Vaughn, who went undrafted out of Utah after walking-on and converting to cornerback there. A high school quarterback, with an 80-inch wingspan, Vaughn was commonly around the ball in OTAs and minicamp. You can read more about him here.

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