Minnesota Vikings: 4 Top targets in 2020 NFL free agency

1. Byron Jones

A storyline that has emerged over the last year and especially during the 2019 campaign for the Minnesota Vikings came at the cornerback position. For really the last handful of seasons, Minnesota has consisted of one of the top defensive back units and cornerback groups in the league, led by Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes and company.

But in 2019, Rhodes appeared to have taken somewhat of a step back and the Vikings could ultimately look towards trying to shed his contract and not committing to him long-term moving forward.

If Minnesota does decide to do that, mixed with the fact that Trae Waynes is set to hit free agency, it will likely look to add to that cornerback group either through the draft or in free agency.

One name on the free-agent market specifically that could intrigue the organization is Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones.

Jones could pair well alongside Vikings young defensive back Mike Hughes on the outside of the field for the Minnesota defense, as he ranked as the 14th-best cornerback during the 2019 season according to Pro Football Focus.

Jones, who is set to turn 28 years old in September, finished up his fifth season in the league and with the Cowboys in 2019, appearing in 15 of the team’s 16 regular-season contests.

During the regular season, he racked up a total of 46 tackles, including 37 solo tackles, and also forced one fumble for Dallas.

The biggest question is just how much interest Jones gathers from Dallas and other teams during the offseason and if that results in the cornerback asking for a hefty salary going into the new season in 2020. But if his asking price remains relatively reasonable, Minnesota should look to trying to bring in Jones before the year begins.