EAGAN, Minn. — Don't mistake youthfulness for inexperience.

The 2025 Vikings cornerbacks are young on paper. Byron Murphy, Jr., is 27 years old. Isaiah Rodgers has him edged by 11 days. Their track records may serve as pseudo-equalizers; Murphy ventured to the Pro Bowl for the first time in six seasons after plucking six picks in 2024, and the free agency procured Rodgers has risen to his feet for Year 5, and his first wearing Purple, after a supine celebration in Super Bowl LIX confetti.

They're the elders of the group – granted, its ripe average age shouldn't be slighted.

Mekhi Blackmon (26), Keenan Garber (24), Kahlef Hailassie (24), Dwight "Nudie" McGlothern (23), Jeff Okudah (26), Reddy Steward (24), Ambry Thomas (25) and Zemaiah Vaughn (23) round out the room, alphabetically. Last season, 34-year-old Stephon Gilmore and 29-year-old Shaq Griffin were leaned on heavily.

Both are free agents now, which creates an opportunity for Murphy and Rodgers to lead. They've done well, so far, as nifty interceptors in 7-on-7 drills and natural communicators of Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores' cunning scheme throughout Organized Team Activity and mandatory minicamp practices.

At his first press conference Tuesday afternoon since the abrupt ending of last year's 14-win season, Flores spoke glowingly of the corners under his tutelage and elaborated on a few newbies specifically.

"All these guys bring a level of, there's experience there," said Flores, "but also talent that [we] can't have enough of at that position." He concluded he's "really excited" about the entire group's makeup.

Blackmon will be a fresh insert to the 2025 lineup after missing his second pro season because of a torn ACL suffered in the first practice of 2024 training camp. But he has some coursework completed toward a degree in Flores' defense (SEE: three starts and one interception in 15 games as a rookie) and rehabbed with a vengeance.

"I mean, it was incredible, honestly," Flores said proudly.

"I remember, we're not late in the year, but we're [in], you know, October, November, [and] he's up, he's moving around, he's training, and it was kind of a running joke, 'I'll see you in two weeks,' " Flores recalled. "And now we're here and, you know, seeing him back out on the field is really a testament to his work ethic, his want-to, his belief in himself – just his overall ability to get back as quickly as he could and get himself out here so he could compete and do what he loves. And that's what we're looking for. I think K.O. (Kevin O'Connell) [has] said it many times: We want guys who love to play, who love the grind of it, who love the practice element, the studying element, the meetings. That's certainly Mekhi."

Blackmon's comeback story resonated with teammates, as well.

"I've been super excited about that because that's like my little brother," Murphy commented. "Obviously, he's been in the building a long time putting that work in. I just think he's been very good mindset-wise. A lot of challenges come with that, but I feel like he's just been in the right mindset."

Even an addition such as Rodgers is realizing Minnesota is privy to beyond-their-years cornerback depth.

"[They're] great guys, a lot of young guys, too, but no one in the room that's just immature," Rodgers noted last week. "Everyone's bought in, everyone's just trying to figure out how to get on the field and make plays, and we're all just one big brotherhood, you know, no beefing in the room. It's great energy."

Rodgers (aka "Zay") is still getting acquainted with Flores, but said it was a "no-brainer" decision to sign with the Vikings because of the latter's reputation for being a great coach and author of strong defenses.

"A lot of people try to ask around the league to see what type of guy he is, but I'm more hands on," Rodgers replied when asked about his familiarity with Flores before leaving Philadelphia for Minnesota.

"He was in New England around the time [I was at UMass], so I never physically met him, but always knew of him and heard his name around," Rodgers continued. "I feel like a lot of DBs in this system just make a lot of interceptions, a lot of plays on the ball, and not just regular interceptions where the game's over with and they're just getting picks, they're actually changing the game. I wanted to be part of that."

The want was reciprocated.

"I've always thought he was a good player and was ascending," Flores said, disclosing the 2020 sixth-round draft pick of the Colts initially popped up on his radar when he was a playmaking defender with major chops in the kickoff return game at Massachusetts. "I was all-in, and I'm happy we got him."

Murphy couldn't hide his happiness if he tried. He called his new cornerback partnership a "blessing."

"Man, it's been fun," Murphy said of getting to know Rodgers. "I already told him – that's my dog. We're already, like, locked in playing [the video game "Call of Duty"] and all that together. But since he's been here, man, there's been great energy in the room. He's talking and helping young guys out.

"He's got a Super Bowl," Murphy reminded, "so I'm trying to go chase that with him."

Flores touted Rodgers' "football IQ and acumen" and commended the cornerback's professionalism as he's synergized, expeditiously, with a secondary returning three players in Murphy, along with safeties Harrison Smith and Joshua Metellus, who logged approximately 1,000 snaps on defense last season.

The quick communication integration can be chalked up to a couple different things, including the players' capacity to store, process and disseminate information, and their knack for relationship-building.

Rodgers possesses both attributes, and so does Okudah, whom Flores mentioned in the same breath.

"We haven't talked about him [yet], but I'll mention him," Flores remarked. "Similar to Zay … between lifts, and walkthroughs and meetings, and trying to build a rapport with the guys in the backend, but also the guys at the second level and asking questions – both guys have been great from that standpoint."

Okudah's résumé is maybe the most interesting of the bunch. Selected 3^rd overall in 2020, 19 slots ahead of Justin Jefferson, Okudah spent three seasons with the rival Lions before one-offs with Atlanta and Houston. He's an in-your-face type of cover man; Jefferson characterized him following Thursday's minicamp practice as an "annoying cornerback" because of his physicality, which disrupts route timing.

Like other Vikings cast off by their original teams, Okudah's change of scenery may be a wondrous thing. He echoed Rodgers' sentiments about enjoying the company at his side, and the chance to grow.

"I think the cool thing about the room we're in is that the cornerbacks and safeties meet together, so we're able to cultivate those relationships," Okudah shared. "It's been awesome having guys who are younger, guys around the same age and guys like Harrison Smith who have been around for a while.

"I was looking around the room the other day and thinking, his first year was 2012, and I think 2012, I was probably in seventh grade or something like that," Okudah added, amazingly. "So, it's pretty cool to see everyone come from different backgrounds. It's like a melting pot, all the different experiences."

With more than a month-long summer break starting last weekend, Murphy is ensuring he and his position mates are prepared for training camp in late July with a simple and smart spending proposal.

"I've already told those guys that I would get a house anywhere they want so that way we could

all link up before camp," Murphy said. "I'm waiting for them to let me know where they want to go, so I put that on me. Whenever they let me know, we are all gonna go somewhere and get some work in."

The idea should center their focus for the upcoming season while advancing some new relationships.

"One of the main pillars, I would say, of building a successful defense is communication," Flores said. "And the best communicators have relationships that are built through conversation; and it's not just on the field or in the meeting room or in a walk-through. It's in the locker room, it's over dinner, it's bowling; it's those types of fellowship events where those relationships are built and they show up on Sundays."

Evidently, Vikings cornerbacks – no less, players in general – are living what coaches are preaching.

"My hope is that we build a team that's unselfish, that is looking for, not necessarily the accolades for themselves, but the accolades for the group, and if you make a play, then I'm excited, and if I make a play, you're excited," Flores detailed. "Last year, they came up with dances to build that rapport. I don't know, who knows what it'll be this year. But that energy, that vibe, it's something that's exciting.

"I tell them, it's not gonna come from me. That's not me. I'm gonna always be thinking about the next play," Flores continued. "But my joy comes from watching them have excitement [and] fun on the field."

Rodgers admitted there's already a group chat of TikTok celebrations that's pending review.

"We've just got to start practicing [them]," he quipped.