Quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers exposed the Minnesota Vikings defense on “Thursday Night Football” in a way few teams have during the Brian Flores era, and it was clear early on where the Vikings’ soft spot resided.
The L.A. offense targeted cornerback Jeff Okudah time and again during what turned out to be a three-touchdown evening for Herbert and a 27-point victory for the Chargers.
“The Vikings have spent the season trying to hide Jeff Okudah, and Justin Herbert just went at him three times and got a touchdown out of it,” Judd Zulgad of SKOR North posted to X on Thursday night. “Not sure why the Vikings thought Okudah could play in the nickel.”
Minnesota brought Okudah over from the Houston Texans this offseason, and while he hasn’t started a game for the Vikings, he has appeared in six of seven contests to this point.
According to Pro Football Reference, Okudah has surrendered a 100 percent completion rate to opposing QBs when targeted, allowing nine completions on nine attempts for 133 yards (14.8 yards per target). Opposing quarterbacks have compiled a collective passer rating of 118.7 when throwing the football Okudah’s way.
The Vikings are 3-4, have battled injury problems all over the roster since Week 1 and may be turning back to a second-year QB in J.J. McCarthy next week against the Detroit Lions who has started just two games in his NFL career. As such, Minnesota may choose not to spend draft capital to improve its team ahead of the league’s November 4 trade deadline.
However, if it does, Alontae Taylor of the New Orleans Saints is arguably the best fit potentially available on the market.
Alontae Taylor Has Skill Set Missing From Vikings Secondary
GettyCornerback Alontae Taylor of the New Orleans Saints.
Taylor, 26, was a second-round pick of the Saints in 2022. He is currently playing in the final season of his four-year rookie contract, which is worth a total of $7.2 million.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen compiled a list of the top 25 trade targets potentially available in 2025, slotting Taylor in as the No. 9 overall player and second-best cornerback who might hit the block in the coming days.
“Taylor’s versatility and urgent play style shows on the tape. He has the speed to cover on the perimeter, but he can also play a disruptive role in the slot,” Bowen wrote Wednesday. “In four years with the Saints, Taylor has 6 sacks, 3 INTs and 36 pass breakups.”
Taylor would be a massive upgrade over Okudah who may miss time moving forward, as he is currently in the league’s mandatory concussion protocol.
Vikings May Not Have Money to Re-Sign Alontae Taylor Next Offseason
GettyCornerback Byron Murphy Jr. of the Minnesota Vikings.
Fowler noted that Taylor is in line to “earn a big pay day” next offseason, which might slow Minnesota’s hand in any negotiations.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, they are looking at a salary cap deficit of $36.3 million in 2026 as of Friday, which will likely mean the team parting ways with quality players next offseason while attempting to convince others to restructure their contracts.
Minnesota just paid big money for Byron Murphy Jr. ($54 million over three years) and dumping more cash into the secondary this March may not be in the cards. Fowler noted that only a “strong offer” would tempt the Saints to part ways with Taylor, which probably means a Day 2 draft pick.
Parting with such an asset now would hurt the Vikings even more than it normally would given how little the team is likely going to be able to accomplish in free agency come next spring.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Vikings Trade Pitch Nets Versatile Saints CB to Replace Jeff Okudah appeared first on Heavy Sports.