After some maneuvering last week with injured reserve, there were two roster spots open. According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, the Minnesota Vikings have filled one of those roster spots with rookie cornerback Kalon Barnes who they will sign off the Miami Dolphins practice squad.
Barnes made a name for himself at Baylor University playing cornerback. Known mostly for his speed, Barnes can rely on it a little bit too much in coverage. Here is what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Barnes.
“Cornerback with the traits worthy of consideration for a late-round pick. Barnes has legitimate track speed but his play can be too reliant upon that aspect of his game. He’s a better athlete than cover man, often losing track of his coverage duties. He’s athletic and has no excuses for not playing with better technique. Barnes’ length and ball skills could have a team willing to plug him into a practice squad slot to see if there is more consistent football ahead for him.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Barnes was a priority for this front office. They have prioritized the 10-yard split and his time of 1.53 ranks in the 87.4 percentile. Considering the Vikings just got beat multiple times deep, perhaps this is a smart strategy to pivot to.
Hear that the #Vikings are expected to add cornerback Kalon Barnes to their 53-man roster. He will be plucked off of Miami’s practice squad. Contract will run through 2024. Barnes was a #Skol pre-draft visit, ran a blazing 4.22 at the Combine. pic.twitter.com/NelLe8PVpl
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) December 14, 2022
