It looks like the Vikings have a new slot cornerback. Chandon Sullivan‘s Minnesota visit Friday led to a contract agreement, according to the veteran corner’s agency (Twitter link).
Sullivan spent the past three seasons with the Packers and worked primarily as their slot defender. The Vikings are not planning to bring back Mike Zimmer mainstay Mackensie Alexander, and Sullivan is coming off a nice contract year at the position. Sullivan will reunite with new Vikings staffer Mike Pettine, who was the Packers’ defensive coordinator during two of the cornerback’s three seasons in Green Bay.
Originally an Eagles UDFA, Sullivan caught on with the Packers in 2019. The Georgia State alum played 77% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps last season and intercepted three passes. He ranked among the top five slot corners in snaps per target and snaps per reception. Sullivan, 25, did not miss a game for Green Bay during his time with the team.
The Packers will make a transition here, but the team has committed significant resources at corner. In addition to housing first-round picks Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, the Packers re-signed Rasul Douglas on a $7MM-per-year deal last week. Still, Green Bay valued what it had in Sullivan and hoped to re-sign him, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The Broncos also had interest, per Tomasson.
With the Vikings moving to a new defensive system, it is uncertain they will re-sign free agent Patrick Peterson, though the All-Decade defender has expressed interest in staying. Peterson signed a one-year, $8MM deal to leave Arizona for Minnesota last year. The Vikes have Cameron Dantzler under contract, but even after signing Sullivan, the retooling team will need more help in coverage.
Fine job as always Minnesota Packers..
Oh no! A team signs players away from teams they are familiar with. What a travesty!