The Vikings continue to need reinforcements at cornerback after former Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore visited the team’s headquarters in Eagan on Monday and left without agreeing to a contract.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday night there has been a “really good dialogue” between the two sides, including Gilmore getting to know O’Connell and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones. Gilmore’s time coincided with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in New England, where they spent the Super Bowl-winning 2017 and 2018 seasons together, with Flores serving as the Patriots’ playmaker in the latter.
Gilmore’s illustrious career – five Pro Bowls, two All-Pro nominations – would bring experience to the Vikings’ secondary, which is already weakened by turnover.
O’Connell alluded to the possibility that Gilmore could still sign in Minnesota.
“The most important thing is that we are very proud of the atmosphere, our dressing room and our players,” said O’Connell. “So I always think it’s positive when we can give the boys a little taste of what they might be in for if everything works out.”
Gilmore, 33, is looking for another team for the fifth time in the last five years. The former 2012 first-round pick – selected 10th overall, 19 spots ahead of safety Harrison Smith – started every game for the Cowboys last season. He defended 13 passes and had two interceptions and a forced fumble.
The Vikings lost cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to a torn ACL early in training camp and rookie fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson died in a car accident in July. They added four cornerbacks in training camp.
Cornerback Shaq Griffin, the 29-year-old veteran who signed a one-year contract as a free agent, remains out with a hamstring injury sustained in the first week of training camp.
