Minnesota Vikings: Former Nemesis Gives Big Shout Out

One would think the rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers would live on for players even into retirement. Apparently not.

James Jones spent several years gashing the Vikings as a receiver for the Packers. In fact, the last truly great game of his career in 2015 came at their expense. He had 109 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion. The 30-13 victory helped propel Green Bay into the playoffs. One would think Jones wouldn’t have much respect for any Minnesota defenders as result of memories like that.

Turns out this couldn’t be further from the truth. Jones is now an analyst and writer for NFL.com. He was tasked most recently with the job of ranking the best cornerbacks in the league going into the 2018 season. Reasonable assumptions would think there were one or two obvious names for the top spot on the list. Instead, Jones pulled a fast one and sent his former rivals in Minnesota a huge tip of the cap, ranking Xavier Rhodes #1 overall.

"“Rhodes were closed a lot in 2017, as the Vikings’ CB1 shut down top receivers weekly. It’s one thing to travel with the best receivers, but it’s another to produce, too. In coverage in 2017, Rhodes gave up just two touchdowns, a 79.0 passer rating against and a 54.7 completion percentage when targeted.He can cover on the outside, inside or in the slot, and his size (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) and physicality at the line of scrimmage give receivers fits, making it hard for them to create separation because he can push receivers off their routes. I’ve gone head-to-head with Rhodes, and these qualities, coupled with his ability to play bump-and-run and off coverage well, make him a nightmare matchup on the island.”"

Rhodes pulls a major upset in the rankings

While the choice is an inspired one, it’s also one that’s going to cause a ton of controversy. Nearly every expert in the NFL would likely pinpoint Jacksonville Jaguars star Jalen Ramsey or Arizona Cardinals ace Patrick Peterson as the best ones in the business today. Even fellow NFC North rival Darius Slay is joining the conversation after posting eight interceptions last season.

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So for Rhodes to claim the #1 spot, he must’ve really impressed Jones during the tape review. Indeed the young corner was a vital key to the Vikings’ ascent to becoming the #1 defense in the NFL last season. His ability to lock down any receiver he plays against is a rare commodity only the best defenses tend to have. GM Rick Spielman deserves a tip of the cap for that pick. One that makes up for his whiff on Cordarrelle Patterson in that same draft back in 2013.