There are several positions in football where the ability to respond with a rebound and meet the next moment is important, but cornerback has an inside track to a podium for that quality.

The Vikings in 2024 needed to respond to difficult on-field challenges for sure, but nothing quite like the group began overcoming in July.

The tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson in a Maryland car accident placed the vibrant teammate in the hearts of every teammate for the rest of summer break and beyond.

Adversity continued on the first practice day of training camp when 2023 third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL.

The Vikings added Fabian Moreau within a week of Blackmon's injury and then signed fellow vet Stephon Gilmore in mid-August (Shaq Griffin had joined Minnesota in March).

The additions of Moreau, Gilmore and Griffin provided extensive experience to join Byron Murphy, Jr., who had been the most experienced cornerback in 2023, his first season with the Vikings.

Murphy set personal bests of six interceptions, 14 passes defensed, 81 tackles and six tackles for loss to garner his first Pro Bowl selection. Keep an eye out for him at this weekend's annual all-star game.

He started all 17 games (for the first time in his career) opposite Gilmore, who started all 15 games he played. Griffin started three games and appeared in all 17 of the regular season and Minnesota's Wild Card game.

Moreau was primarily relied upon as an insurance policy the Vikings turned to more in Week 13 after Gilmore left Minnesota's game against Arizona.

Undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern set a franchise record for longest interception return in a preseason game by a Vikings rookie to help Minnesota rock Cleveland, but he mostly observed those ahead of him on the depth chart.

Notable Numbers

2 – Murphy was one of two players in the NFL in 2024, along with Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey, to record at least six interceptions and 14 passes defensed. Nine of his 14 career interceptions have occurred in the past 31 of his 87 games played (since joining the Vikings).

32 – Gilmore boosted his career interceptions total to 32 with one of the three interceptions by Minnesota against longtime nemesis Aaron Rodgers in London. It also ensured he recorded at least one interception in each of his 13 NFL seasons.

The Highest High

There are a few options here, but it's hard to argue with the group combining for two of Minnesota's interceptions in a win at Green Bay and three of four total takeaways at Lambeau Field.

Griffin nabbed an interception and returned the ball 28 yards to set up a 14-yard touchdown from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson to make it 28-0 with 5:28 remaining in the first half.

Murphy helped ice the victory with an interception in the end zone to protect a 31-22 lead with 6:13 remaining in the game and forced a fumble by Tucker Kraft after a short catch to end Green Bay's next possession after two snaps. That punchout was recovered by Camryn Bynum and gave Minnesota the ball back with 4:18 to go.

The Lowest Low

Minnesota's Week 8 assignment of visiting the L.A. Rams on short rest after falling in Week 7 to the Lions was tough, but the showing needed to be better in a 30-20 loss.

The Rams surged with the surprise return of Puka Nacua and expected return of Cooper Kupp, and the freshness of the receivers showed up against a group of Vikings that were trying to recharge their batteries.

Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 34 passes for four touchdowns after entering the game with just three scoring passes on the season. He linked with Nacua seven times for 106 yards, connected with Kupp five times for 51, including a TD, and made both completions to Demarcus Robinson change the scoreboard.

2 Pressing Questions for 2025

1. Free agency pending

Murphy, Gilmore and Griffin blended well for the most part, but will 2024 be the last time each suits up for the Vikings?

Murphy is only 27 years old and has had a two-year run with Minnesota that would prompt interest from other teams, but he also knows he likes it here.

Griffin, 29, and Gilmore, 34, also spoke glowingly of their experience with Minnesota and the joy of continuing to play football after multiple stops elsewhere.

The Vikings will need to assess how they'll try to offset the potential replacement of almost 2,500 defensive snaps at the position (it could be fewer snaps to offset if one or more than one returns). Blackmon is expected to be in the mix as he looks to build off some promising moments from his 2023 rookie season.

2. Can McGlothern turn practice plays into game ops?

McGlothern provided multiple memorable plays during training camp practices that led to a crescendo in the preseason game at Cleveland with his 91-yard INT return that stopped just shy of the end zone. The pick set up a quick score for a 20-7 lead early in the third quarter and effectively put that contest on cruise control.

The Vikings will need to do a little bit of projecting where his potential could be to help the team approach free agency and the draft.