The Minnesota Vikings are once again being linked to a familiar face in free agency—veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas. Last summer, when the team needed depth at the position, many fans and analysts called for the Vikings to bring in Douglas. Now, in May 2026, history appears to be repeating itself.
While Minnesota's cornerback room looks stronger than it did a year ago, adding one more experienced player could still be a smart move. Douglas, who remains available on the open market, is no stranger to NFC North fans—he spent time with the Green Bay Packers before moving on to other stops.
Jacob Infante of PFSN recently ranked Douglas as the No. 10 free agent in the league, and he specifically connected the dots to the Vikings. "The Dolphins needed a stopgap starting option at cornerback last year, and Rasul Douglas filled that role admirably," Infante wrote. "He had two interceptions and ranked No. 15 in the league in PFSN’s CB Impact Scoring at 84.3. He’ll be 31 in August, so he’s hardly a long-term solution for any team, but he should get the chance to battle for a starting role. 2026 Predicted Team: Minnesota Vikings."
It's a scenario that feels familiar for Vikings fans. In 2025, the team opted to go with Jeff Okudah as their CB3, despite widespread calls to sign a veteran like Douglas. That decision didn't pay off—Okudah struggled and eventually suffered a season-ending injury after just six underwhelming games.
Douglas, meanwhile, has built a solid NFL career since being drafted in the third round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017—the same day Minnesota selected running back Dalvin Cook. Over 135 career games (93 starts), he's racked up 21 interceptions and proven to be a reliable, durable presence in the secondary.
His Pro Football Focus grades over the years tell the story of a player who has consistently been above average when healthy:
- 2025: 72.7 (851 snaps)
- 2024: 53.9 (997 snaps)
- 2023: 81.0 (1,040 snaps)
- 2022: 71.1 (915 snaps)
- 2021: 74.5 (734 snaps)
- 2020: 60.2 (821 snaps)
- 2019: 52.4 (583 snaps)
- 2018: 72.5 (660 snaps)
- 2017: 64.1 (424 snaps)
Interestingly, SI.com's Nate Gosney also floated Douglas as a potential fit for the Los Angeles Chargers this week, noting that "one spot remains wide open for a free agent to come in and sign…immediately. That is cornerback." Whether it's Minnesota or another contender, Douglas clearly still has plenty to offer as a savvy, experienced option in a secondary that could use a steady hand.