In search of added depth in the secondary, the Vikings agreed to terms with cornerback James Pierre in the opening hour of the legal tampering period, a savvy move that successfully filled a need.

A source confirmed the deal to the Pioneer Press.

It’s reportedly a 2-year, $8.5 million contract for Pierre with $3.7 million fully guaranteed. He has spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers sans a brief stint with the Washington Commanders.

As he steps into his new surroundings with the Vikings, it helps that Pierre has some familiarity with the scheme. He crossed over with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and new defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander during his time with the Steelers.

There’s some intriguing upside with Pierre despite the fact that he turns 30 in the fall. He looked the part of a late bloomer last season as a rotational player that was on the field for roughly 38% of the defensive snaps. He was sticky in coverage while playing almost excessively on the outside and finished as the No. 2 ranked cornerback by Pro Football Focus.

The fact that Pierre has a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame is also significant in that his body type fits the profile in terms of what Flores looks for at the position. Though he likely won’t be a foundational piece on defense, Pierre helps provide some experience on the backend with the potential to work himself into a more pivotal role.

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