The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly lost yet another piece of their secondary.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes is signing with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal is for one year, according to Schefter.
Former Vikings’ All-Pro CB Xavier Rhodes is signing a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, @ShahSportsGroup tells ESPN. Rhodes will be a free agent again after 2020 season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2020
In 2017, Rhodes was a huge reason the Vikings had the success they did. He shut down wide receivers such as Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Michael Thomas and Julio Jones. He finished the 2017 season with first team All-Pro honors.
Since 2017, Rhodes has never truly been the same. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer helped develop him into a shutdown corner, but that quickly changed in 2018 and 2019, when Rhodes went through some ups and downs. Ultimately, he was never able to play at the same level he was playing at when he helped the Vikings reach the NFC Championship game.
Rhodes will now get his fresh start, going to a new-look Colts team that now has Phillip Rivers under center. If the Colts get out of Rhodes what Vikings fans saw just three years ago, this could end up looking like one of the biggest free agency steals of 2020.
In 2020, the Vikings cornerbacks room is going to look a lot different. With the recent reported departure of Rhodes, Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes, the Vikings will have to add new pieces in free agency or the draft.