Nate

Hairston

Minnesota retooled their cornerback room with two players in the first four rounds of the draft this offseason. The extra competition ultimately shut Hairston out of a roster spot. Hairston can contribute on special teams and as a corner, making him a strong bet to find a roster spot sooner rather than later.

Minnesota also re-signed fellow CB Tye Smith. Hairston, 27, was a fifth-round pick of the Colts in 2017 and spent two years with Indy before splitting time with the Jets and Broncos the last three years. He appeared in 16 games for Denver last season, seeing action on 63% of the special teams snaps and 15% of the defensive downs.

Minnesota also announced that they have signed CB Nate Hairston and re-signed CB Tye Smith. Davis was released by Miami last week. He has started 72 games across every position but center over the past five years. Davis struggled at right tackle in 2021, allowing eight sacks and ten QB hits across 16 starts. For now, he projects to start at right guard for the Vikings. The move back to the inside should help Davis rebound in 2022.

Hairston appeared in five games for the Broncos and Jets last year and made 17 combined starts between 2017-19. He reportedly had a strong camp, but Denver ultimately decided to go in a different direction. He’s now a practice squad candidate.

Hairston’s release was procedural to lower his cap hit. He’ll be brought back at the veteran minimum after appearing in five games between the Broncos and Jets last season. 26-year-old Hairston will compete with Essang Bassey, Kevin Toliver, and Parnell Motley for a spot on the opening day roster.

Hairston spent five games between the Broncos and Jets last season. He was a starter his first two years and can play the slot in sub-packages. The 26-year-old will look to resurface before OTAs.

Hairston started the first eight games for New York but ultimately struggled through an ankle injury the rest of the way. Acquired from the Colts for a sixth-round pick last summer, Hairston’s one-year tenure with the Jets ends after 395 (36%) defensive snaps. He’ll make for a premier reserve on another squad prior to Week 1.

Hairston, 25, started seven of the Colts’ first eight games at corner last season but battled an ankle injury and ended up playing just nine defensive snaps the rest of the way. He has experience obviously, and the Jets need help at corner with Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole, and Parry Nickerson penciled in behind default No. 1 cover man Trumaine Johnson, who is hoping to rebound.

The Colts have more injured players than inactive slots. They will be without their top three corners against Tom Brady. Hairston is week to week after going down late in last week’s overtime loss to the Texans.

Slot CB Kenny Moore (concussion) is also sidelined, as is Quincy Wilson (concussion). The Colts are in danger of being epically short-handed for their short-week matchup with the Patriots. Hairston has played all but one snap so far this season.