The Vikings cornerbacks have emerged as a strength of the team since the arrival of Head Coach Mike Zimmer and defensive backs coach Jerry Gray.
The unit helped the Vikings rank fifth in third-down percentage, fourth in red zone percentage and fifth in points allowed in 2015. The team ranked 30th, 26th and 32nd respectively in 2013, the season prior to Zimmer’s hire.
Nobody on the Vikings defense saw the field more in 2015 than cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who played a whopping 94.6 percent of Minnesota’s defensive snaps.
Rhodes, a former first-round pick who is entering his fourth year in the league, often shadowed opponent’s best receivers and recorded one interception.