The Minnesota Vikings are reshaping their secondary. While Harrison Smith returns for another season, the team allowed safety Camryn Bynum to enter free agency, paving the way for Theo Jackson to potentially assume a starting role. Recognizing that Bynum was bound to leave, the Vikings secured his understudy with a three-year deal worth just over $9 million. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert highlighted on March 24 that Jackson’s strong performances during the past two training camps and in limited defensive snaps made him an attractive replacement—a move he described as “under-the-radar” for the offseason.
At 26 years old, Jackson was originally selected in the sixth round (204th overall) by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, and the Vikings later signed him off the Titans’ practice squad. Until now, Jackson’s contributions have mainly come on special teams, but he is poised to transition into a larger role. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis noted that both the coaching staff and the roster hold Jackson in high regard, and he pointed out that the team is also focused on maintaining a deep talent pipeline in case additional depth is needed.
Data from Pro Football Reference shows that Bynum, Smith, and safety Josh Metellus have been among the most active in the Vikings’ defensive snaps, ranking second, third, and fourth respectively. Meanwhile, former fourth-round pick Jay Ward is advancing on the depth chart behind Jackson. Lewis added that the coaching staff has long been impressed with Jackson during practices and training camp, and they are looking to increase Ward’s defensive reps this season—supported by the addition of an exceptional gunner in Tavierre Thomas.
Looking ahead, Lewis expects Jackson to fill the deep safety role alongside Smith, while Metellus will likely stay closer to the line of scrimmage in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme. Although Jackson and Ward have combined for 76 games without a start, there is a shared belief that Jackson will emerge as a key contributor, especially as the team prepares for Harrison Smith’s eventual retirement.
The Vikings seem poised to stick with their current secondary core for now, even as they explore options at cornerback. They re-signed Byron Murphy, yet their other top corners, Shaquill Griffin and Stephon Gilmore, remain free agents, leaving room for players like Mekhi Blackmon or Dwight McGlothern to compete for a spot. Lewis emphasized that strengthening the safety position by bringing in a young, capable player who can learn from Smith is a smart move. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acknowledges that safety is a tough position to evaluate and that missing on a top draft pick could leave the team with few alternatives—especially considering past missteps with players like corners Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth, and safety Lewis Cine, all of whom the Vikings parted ways with in 2024.
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