https://www.vikings.com/news/2026-training-camp-preview-cornerbacks-safeties

Training Camp Preview: Cornerbacks & Safeties

EAGAN, Minn. — We've been working our way through the Vikings position groups and have reached the back end of the defense as training camp is getting closer.

The annual event, which has been held at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center since 2018, is shaping up to have a different look because it appears the No. 22 belonging to Harrison Smith will not be on Minnesota's roster as camp opens.

We just sent the Training Camp Playbook to print this morning (and sent the Vikings Yearbook to print last week). This is the first time Smith has not been on the team in a publication since 2011, the year before he became a first-round pick.

Smith was among the players who attended the groundbreaking of TCO Performance Center during 2016 Vikings Training Camp, trekking from Mankato to a field of potential on Aug. 2 as he prepped for his fifth NFL season.

A franchise fixture for more than a decade, "The Hitman" sometimes was referred to as a "fixer" who was leaned on to make others right before or during a play or within a drive as an opponent began to mount momentum. It's an unwritten role but one the Vikings will continue to need to fill if Smith does not wind up returning for a 15th season.

CORNERBACKS AND SAFETIES

RETURNEES: (Listed alphabetically) Cornerbacks Dwight McGlothern, Jr., Byron Murphy, Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and Zemaiah Vaughn; Safeties Kahlef Hailassie, Theo Jackson, Joshua Metellus, Tavierre Thomas and Jay Ward

NEWCOMERS: From 2026 free agency: CB James Pierre; From 2026 NFL Draft: S Jakobe Thomas (98th overall) and CB Chuck Demmings (163rd overall); Undrafted free agents: CBs Marcus Allen, Da'Veawn Armstead and Tyreek Chappell and S Jacob Thomas

NOTABLE DEPARTURE: Smith's status was covered in the intro.

2025 RECAP: The Vikings reached a three-year contract extension with Murphy following his 2024 Pro Bowl campaign heading into the season and brought in veterans Rodgers (on a two-year contract) and Jeff Okudah (on a one-year deal) with the mindset of having Okudah focus on the boundary cornerback position to capitalize on his size and physicality.

The plan looked pretty good until Okudah entered concussion protocol, wrapping his campaign in Week 8. Injuries have limited the former No. 3 overall draft pick to appearing in 50 games over six NFL seasons.

Rodgers made one of the biggest quick splashes of any free agent across the league. In Week 3, he returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown, forced two fumbles and returned one 66 yards for a touchdown, becoming the NFL's first player with two or more defensive touchdowns and two or more forced fumbles in a game.

Murphy has started all 17 games of each of the past two seasons. After a career-best six picks in 2024, he was kept off the board until Weeks 16 and 17. Murphy has 34 passes defensed since joining Minnesota.

Veteran Fabian Moreau filled in admirably for Okudah, limiting foes to a passer rating of 54.2 across 198 defensive snaps.

The Vikings leaned on a three-safety package quite a bit thanks to the continued versatility of Metellus, who suffered a shoulder injury during joint practices with the Patriots while defending a Hail Mary attempt. Metellus grinded, starting 14 games, and recorded 86 tackles and two interceptions, but he didn't appear to be his complete self.

After suffering an illness during camp, Smith rallied to play some of his best ball down the stretch, helping Minnesota finish with a five-game winning streak to end at 9-8.

Jackson's playing time soared from 78 defensive snaps in 2024 to 530 last season. He recorded the first two sacks, three tackles for loss and forced fumble of his career. Ward also experienced a big uptick in playing time on defense, with his snap count going from 28 in 2024 to 248.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

(Cornerback) The Vikings added to the room via free agency and the draft, picking up Pierre from Pittsburgh. Pierre had overlapped with Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores (2022) and Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Gerald Alexander (2022-23 and 2025) while with the Steelers and is believed to be ascending as he heads into his seventh pro season. Opponents completed just 15 of 35 passes when targeting Pierre across his 376 defensive snaps. In the fifth round, Minnesota tabbed Demmings out of Stephen F. Austin. The offseason program offered Demmings an opportunity to log some meaningful reps, and he looked comfortable in coverage. Vaughn and McGlothern have shown some potential previously in practices. Allen, Armstead and Chappell will be interested in making the most of every rep in trying to become one of the latest undrafted rookies to make the squad.

(Safety) Metellus has the vocal leadership component and advanced knowledge of the system to help all others at the position group, as well as players at other spots in the defense. Jackson and Ward can build off the meaningful reps they logged last season. Ward has quite a bit of versatility in his game. Tavierre Thomas is a reserve safety but is most likely to contribute on special teams. Hailassie is an interesting watch. He moved from corner to safety during camp last year and had a mondo preseason contest against Houston with two interceptions. Jakobe Thomas was added late in the third round of the draft and is a player who was of considerable interest to Flores. Not to be confused, Jacob Thomas also was in on several plays during the offseason program.

WHAT TO WATCH IF YOU MAKE IT TO CAMP: Flores' impact on the secondary in the past three seasons has helped the defense vault up the rankings. Minnesota finished seventh in the NFL in points against and third in yards allowed in 2025, despite having some injuries to work through on the back end. Keep an eye on how he might potentially deploy blitzers from the back end, as well as which combination of players are involved. Communication is critical when a position group uses so much disguise, so there's some elements to observe before the snaps.

2 KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE VIKINGS SECONDARY

1. Which five will be on the field in the nickel?

The nickel defense incorporates five defensive backs. That's often three corners (two on the outside + one covering the slot) and two safeties. Minnesota's depth, however, at safety, along with Metellus' versatility has led to plenty of three-safety sets under Flores. With the potential of filling Smith's shoes, how will the Vikings go about defensive packages.

2. Which newcomer might create an early buzz?

The offseason program was mainly a 7-on-7 passing league when the offense and defense were repping at full-speed, but there were some encouraging glimpses of plays being made on the football by newcomers. While tackling still won't enter the equation until preseason games, the increase in intensity and complexity could help evaluations.