The Minnesota Vikings face a key decision with one of their top cornerbacks.
Captain Munnerlyn is set to become a free agent and the Vikings will have to decide in relative short order if they plan to bring back a key piece of their defense, or if they will turn the position over to last year’s second-round pick Mackenzie Alexander.
Munnerlyn was pretty clear about what route he wants the Vikings to take during an interview with NFL.com on Wednesday.
“Everybody wants to throw the ball. Everybody wants to see the scoreboard light up so hopefully teams see that. Definitely hoping the Vikings see that because we play it [nickel defense] a lot, I hope they value my position and value my talent and bring me back,” said Munnerlyn Wednesday.
Munnerlyn’s teammates also seem to hope the Captain is back.
👀 @captain_41 best 5¢ in the league!! https://t.co/1YJBdSNDAS
— Kyle Rudolph (@KyleRudolph) February 22, 2017
For the Vikings, Munnerlyn has excelled as the team’s nickelback the last two years. In three seasons with the Vikings, he has four interceptions – none last season.
Still, though, he figures to cash in during the offseason.
The Viking Age notes that every team in the NFL passed the ball more than they ran it last season – several teams nearly by a margin of 2-to-1.
Munnerlyn remains a high-quality pass defender so there will be offers. The 28-year-old cornerback has never appeared in less than 14 games in a season and has eight interceptions and 32 breakups over the last five years.
So if the Vikings want to keep him, they may need to pay up.
