EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added another well-known cornerback to the defense.
Minnesota has agreed to terms with Bashaud Breeland, the team announced Friday. He will join a cornerback room that this offseason saw the addition of eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson and the return of Mackensie Alexander.
Originally a fourth-round draft pick by Washington in 2014, Breeland most recently spent two seasons with the Chiefs. In 2020, he started all 11 regular-season games he played. He recorded 38 tackles (press box stats), one tackle for loss, two interceptions, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Breeland has totaled 94 games (88 starts) with Washington, Green Bay and Kansas City. He has 14 career interceptions, notching a season-high of three in 2016, and three defensive touchdowns (two pick-sixes and a fumble returned for a touchdown). He also has played in seven postseason games.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings new cornerback:
1. Back-to-back Super Bowl trips
Breeland helped the Chiefs defeat the 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV, during which he intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo early in the second quarter to return the ball to Kansas City.
He made a second trip to the NFL's biggest stage in February, when the Chiefs were defeated 31-9 by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Over this career, Breeland has recorded 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception in playoff games.
2. Former Tiger
Breeland was a standout at Clemson from 2010-13 before entering the 2014 NFL Draft.
In four seasons with the Tigers, he totaled 136 tackles, 3.0 sacks and six interceptions.
Breeland overlapped at Clemson just one year with Alexander, who redshirted in 2013 after suffering a preseason injury.
3. 'My Girl'
In 2016, Breeland penned a letter via The Players’ Tribune to his first daughter, Jaelle, who will be 8 this summer.
Breeland reflected on the challenges of being a young father but also emphasized the moments he will forever cherish and the motivation he has when taking the football field every Sunday.
When we're listening to music, or reading books at night or whatever — those are my favorite parts of the day. It doesn't matter if I'm coming home from a long day of workouts or from a tough loss on Sunday. When I see that smile on your face, it's a reminder of why I do everything I do. And I want to thank you for that — for being the thing in my life that drives me every day.
4. All-state high school hurdler
Breeland attended Allendale-Fairfax High School in South Carolina and made an impact both on the football field, where he played quarterback and defensive back, and for the school's track team.
Breeland won the state title in the 400-meter hurdles as a sophomore and a junior, the latter year helping Allendale-Fairfax reach the state title. He earned two state titles at the 2010 SCHSL State Championships, winning the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.06 seconds and the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54.78 seconds.
5. Return to the NFC North
In September 2018, Breeland signed with the Packers. He played just seven games that season, making five starts, but still managed to snag two interceptions – including one he returned 22 yards for a touchdown against the Falcons. He did not play in either game against the Vikings that season.
Breeland finished his campaign in Green Bay with 20 tackles (16 solo), one tackle for loss, four passes defensed and two interception. According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, he recorded the second-lowest passer rating allowed in the league (39.8) among cornerbacks targeted from Weeks 10-17.
