Terence Newman Is Perfect Veteran CB to Mentor Young Vikings' Secondary

An emerging secondary led by one of the game's premier defensive teachers is adding a favorite of the instructor to help continue the unit's climb. 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with veteran cornerback Terence Newman, who spent six seasons with Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer at previous stops in Dallas and Cincinnati. 

Now 36 years old and at the tail end of a productive career, Newman isn't likely to be the star he once was under Zimmer. But he should be the perfect mentor to a secondary that is expected to add more talent in the 2015 draft after already taking huge strides with Zimmer in Minnesota last season. 

Newman spent three seasons with the Bengals after following Zimmer from Dallas to Cincinnati in 2012. Despite being ancient in cornerback years, he still went on to start 41 games, and defended at least 10 passes in all three seasons.

While Zimmer was defensive coordinator of the Cowboys from 2003 to 2006, Newman played in all 64 games and produced 12 interceptions. Dallas selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the '03 draft. 

Overall, Newman has 37 interceptions, 147 passes defended and eight forced fumbles over 12 NFL seasons. 

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

	Team	Games	INT	Passes Defended
2003	DAL	16	4	17
2004	DAL	16	4	11
2005	DAL	16	3	14
2006	DAL	16	1	11
2012	CIN	15	2	10
2013	CIN	13	2	11
Totals	-	92	16	74

Yet Father Time's unyielding grip on every aging football player finally started to show for Newman in 2014. 

He still played over 800 snaps for the Bengals, according to Pro Football Focus, but for the first time since 2011, Newman finished with a negative grade in pass coverage. He allowed almost 700 yards passing and two scores. Still, quarterbacks had only a 79.8 passer rating when targeting him last season. 

Newman will now join a secondary that currently includes Xavier Rhodes, Captain Munnerlyn and Harrison Smith. 

Rhodes is one of the league's up-and-coming perimeter cornerbacks. He's long and physical, and he made significant improvements in 2014 in terms of technique and awareness. Zimmer was no doubt behind much of the progression. Newman and his intricate knowledge of both Zimmer's defense and playing the position should be valuable resources for the ascending cornerback. 

Munnerlyn arrived from Carolina last March to be Minnesota's go-to option in the slot. He'll likely see even more time inside with Newman on board. At only 5'9", Munnerlyn remains best used when shadowing slot receivers as the nickelback. 

Smith might be the best safety in the game no one's heard of. While robbed of a Pro Bowl invite last year, he will likely have many trips to the all-star game in his future. Having a master of Zimmer's defense in the secondary room can only help a young safety moving forward. 

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

CBs	Grade	Pass Grade	Opp. Passer Rating
Safeties	Grade	Pass Grade	Opp. Passer Rating
X. Rhodes	+3.3	+7.3	75.7
C. Munnerlyn	+0.3	-0.6	104.4
J. Robinson	+2.6	-1.5	90.6
H. Smith	+17.9	+3.8	67.9
R. Blanton	+8.8	+0.9	88.9

The possibility exists that Newman will also be tasked with helping a rookie learn the ropes.

The Vikings have been linked to many top cornerbacks from the 2015 draft class. Even with Newman in Minnesota, the position is still a first-round possibility. Signing a 36-year-old player should never detract from establishing a future at an important position. 

If the Vikings do use a top pick at cornerback, Newman would serve as a stopgap player capable of helping Zimmer develop the rookie. It sounds like a backward idea—tutoring someone to eventually take your job—but Newman is a consummate pro and well-versed in helping along young players. 

In Cincinnati, he shared the cornerback position with first-round picks Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. The strong possibility exists that Zimmer will ask Newman to be the same kind of leader for Rhodes and a yet unidentified rookie. 

The signing of Newman isn't going to make huge waves in free agency. At 36, he's on his last legs in the NFL and likely headed to a situational role. But it's obvious Zimmer has a clear vision for his new secondary in Minnesota, and there's few people who understand that vision better than Newman. 

The arrow for the Vikings defense is pointed straight up. If Newman can add something both on and off the field for the Minnesota secondary, Zimmer will ensure the results meet the hype. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2