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The player who tied for the NFL lead in pick-six's last season is heading for Minnesota. Former Carolina Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn has signed a three-year deal with the Vikings, the team announced on Thursday.
The contract is worth up to $15 million, according to NFL.com. Munnerlyn's deal also includes $7 million in guaranteed money, according to the Charlotte Observer.
The Vikings were in need of some secondary help after finishing 31st against the pass in 2013.
Munnerlyn led the Panthers with 12 passes defended last season and also recorded three sacks. The 25-year-old corner only picked off two passes last year, but he made most of them, returning both interceptions for touchdowns.
The Vikings will get a defensive back who can tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Munnerlyn only missed four tackles on 992 regular season snaps. The former seventh-round pick ended the season with 74 tackles for the Panthers, the third most on the team.
If Munnerlyn is anything like Steve Smith and wants revenge on Carolina, he'll get a crack at his former team sometime next season. The Panthers are scheduled to visit Minnesota in 2014.
The loss of Munnerlyn continues a long week of losses in Carolina. Since free agency began on March 11, the Panthers have cut Steve Smith, lost two players to retirement (guard Geoff Hangartner and center Jeff Byers), watched Ted Ginn sign with the Cardinals and lost Mike Mitchell to Pittsburgh. The Panthers also lost left tackle Jordan Gross, who announced his retirement on Feb. 25.
