Vikings replaced Byron Murphy Jr. with ‘home run’ pick at No. 24 overall

One of the top ballhawking defenses in the NFL could look a lot different in 2025.

The Minnesota Vikings have some major decisions to make on that side of the football, especially in the secondary. Star defensive back Josh Metellus is entering the final year of the rookie extension he signed in 2023, but the Vikings have little else shored up at cornerback and safety entering the new league year.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported recently that the Vikings could prioritize an extension for safety Cam Bynum over Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who figures to cash in after hauling in six interceptions during the 2024 season.

Minnesota could look to replace Murphy with a player like Asante Samuel Jr. in free agency. With corners Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau all scheduled to be back on the open market themselves, and some serious doubt surrounding Harrison’s Smith’s future, the Vikings could easily be looking to double down with a cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft.

If the Vikings do let Murphy walk in free agency, replacing him with the playmaking Barron would make a lot of sense. Barron notched career highs with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups with the Longhorns in 2024. He’s also an older prospect who played over 2,600 defensive snaps in college and just turned 23 in December. He fits the mold of a Day 1 starter right out of the chute.

It’s possible the Vikings bring a player like Griffin back on another short-term deal to help fill out the depth chart, and former third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon could be primed for added opportunity after missing the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL in training camp.

But it’s time for Minnesota to get younger in the secondary, and adding a potential franchise boundary corner like Barron on Day 1 of the NFL Draft feels like the proper path forward.