Vikings' Updated Depth Chart, 2021 Salary Cap After Patrick Peterson Contract

The Minnesota Vikings made a major addition on defense Wednesday, inking eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson to a one-year, $10 million deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter: 

Minnesota finished with the eighth-worst pass defense last year (258.8 yards per game) despite tying for the third-most interceptions (15). Peterson should help both of those numbers greatly improve. The longtime Arizona Cardinals star has recorded at least two picks in each of the last three years and has recorded three or more interceptions in five seasons. 

Here's how Peterson fits in as the Vikings look for a quick turnaround following a third-place finish in the NFC North last year.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Depth Chart

LDE: Danielle Hunter, Stephen Weatherly, Jordan Brailford

LDT: Armon Watts 

RDT: Dalvin Tomlinson, James Lynch

RDE: Jalyn Holmes, D.J. Wonnum

OLB: Anthony Barr, Blake Lynch

MLB: Eric Kendricks, Hardy Nickerson Jr.

OLB:  Ryan Connelly, Troy Dye, Cameron Smith

CB: Patrick Peterson, Jeff Gladney, Kris Boyd 

CB: Mike Hughes, Harrison Hand

FS: Myles Dorn

SS: Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus

Total Cap: $188.8 million

Report contract details via Spotrac.com. 

Outlook

With Andy Dalton poised to start for the Chicago Bears and Jared Goff headed to the Detroit Lions, it makes plenty of sense for the Vikings to go out and nab a cornerback who is known for making quarterbacks regret their mistakes.

Peterson should feast in the NFC North—with the likely exception of facing Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers—but it's clear Minnesota was out to add a game-changing corner. 

To that end the team accomplished its mission, but after allowing 29.7 points per game last year (fourth-most in the league), there's still plenty of work to do in rebuilding the Vikings defense. It's hard to find someone more suited to revitalize a defensive unit than Peterson, but he can't do it alone. 

If Minnesota isn't able to build out around him, it may be a quick and forgettable year in the NFC North for the 30-year-old.