Minnesota Vikings Sign Terence Newman
Oct 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Terence Newman (23) against the Carolina Panthers at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals and the Panthers tie in overtime 37-37. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Mike Zimmer Pipeline is officially open.
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A few days after inking former Cincinnati Bengal safety Taylor Mays to a one year deal (For my thoughts on what Mays might bring to the table, click here.) the Minnesota Vikings made the signing of cornerback Terence Newman official. Newman agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
Newman has been around for a long, long time. He was the number five overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Newman will turn 37 years old in September.
The obvious question is how much can a guy who was born during the Jimmy Carter administration still have left in the tank? Last season, he led the Bengals in pass break-ups and collected one interception. The Vikings have Xavier Rhodes locked in at one cornerback spot but the other side is up in the air. Captain Munnerlyn will more than likely stick at the slot position in nickel packages, but Zimmer might be looking to upgrade over Josh Robinson on first and second downs.
One scenario I could easily see is the team bringing Newman in to compete with Robinson for the 2015 season while also drafting a cornerback with a high pick (possibly Trae Waynes) to line up opposite Rhodes for years to come. That would give Zimmer a year to work with Rookie X, get him acclimated to the speed and technique of the NFL and bring him along slowly to possibly take over full-time in 2016.
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But enough wild speculation. In the short-term, as long as Newman is healthy enough he should provide value for the Vikings secondary. If he comes to camp and suddenly has nothing left, the Vikings could part ways with him for $750,000, the guaranteed portion of the one year deal. $750k sounds like a lot of money to you and me, but it is essentially a Band-Aid to rip off if Newman has no tread left on his tires. In other words, a pretty risk-fee deal.
The Vikings have been true to their word in regards to not making a big splash in free agency. Instead, their splash was by trading for Mike Wallace and releasing Greg Jennings. The best teams in the NFL are loaded with their own draft picks so it is a strategy I am fine with, provided Rick Spielman can continue to draft well.