Cornerback should be top priority for Vikings in next week’s draft
By Jeff Diamond, former Vikings GM who co-hosted Monday Night Purple and Purple Sunday Postgame last season on News Talk 830 WCCO. Jeff will be participating in WCCO’s NFL Draft coverage during the first three rounds on the nights of Thursday April 23 and Friday April 24.
In order to reach the training camp roster limit of 90 players, the Vikings will add 12 draft choices—pending trades—and approximately 18 more players who are either veteran free agents still on the market or members of this year’s draft class who are not picked in the seven rounds. Expect about eight of these 30 new players to be defensive backs.
After last week’s offensive review, here’s my defensive breakdown listed in order of priority:
1. Defensive Backs: Analysis-- With last year’s three starting corners—Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander—having left in free agency, the Vikings must shore up the position with a combination of young vets and drafted players.
Mike Hughes said recently he’s “ready to go” after his late-season neck injury that kept him out of the two playoff games. That’s good news for the Vikings since the 2018 No. 1 pick is expected to start at one of the corner spots. Competing with incoming draftees to be a starter on the outside and in the slot will be Kris Boyd who was last year’s seventh-round pick, third-year man Holton Hill who has shown promise in his limited duty and Nate Meadors who was added to 53 man roster late in the season. Also in the mix are two practice squad players from last season—Mark Fields and Kemon Hall—along with a former Canadian Football League player in Marcus Sayles.
The Vikings are in great shape at their starting safety spots with perhaps the league’s best tandem in Pro Bowler Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, last year’s NFL interception leader with seven picks. Harris was given the franchise tag so he’s on a one year tender unless a long term deal is reached. He’s also been rumored to be a possible trade target but I think the team would be best served by keeping him, especially this year with the cornerback position in flux. The Vikings currently have no backup safeties so look for the team to add a couple late in the draft who also will help the special teams who have lost several key contributors in free agency.
Potential DB draft targets: I’d like to see Minnesota add two talented corners from their five picks in the first three rounds. Fortunately for the Vikings, there appears to be plenty of quality corners, led by Jeff Okudah of Ohio State who will be a top 10 pick. The Vikings should have a shot at one or more of these highly-rated corners in the first round at their No.22 or No. 25 spot and some may fall to their second-round pick at No. 58 overall: Kristian Fulton-LSU, C.J. Henderson-Florida, Trevon Diggs (Stefon’s brother)-Alabama, A.J. Terrell-Clemson, Jeff Gladney-TCU and Noah Igbinoghene-Auburn. Other strong prospects who could be available to Minnesota in the second or third rounds include: Jaylon Johnson-Utah, Damon Arnette-Ohio State, Cameron Dantzler-Mississippi State, Bryce Hall-Virginia and Troy Pride-Notre Dame.
Isaiah Simmons from Clemson is expected to be a top 10 pick who could play safety but is more likely to be a linebacker in the NFL. Xavier Mckinney of Alabama is the consensus top pure safety and a probable first-round pick. The Vikings are likely to look for a safety beginning in Round 3 and probably later. Here are several safeties who are expected to be second or third rounders and could be targeted by the Vikings: Antoine Winfield of the Gophers who probably will be drafted in the late first or early second-round; Grant Delpit-LSU, Kyle Dugger-Lenoir-Rhyne, Ashtyn Davis-Cal and Terrell Burgess-Utah.
Jeremy Chinn of Southern Illinois is an interesting third or fourth round prospect and former Viking receiver Jake Reed’s son J.R. Reed (from Georgia) is a middle round talent who could interest Vikings GM Rick Spielman and Coach Mike Zimmer.
2. Defensive Line: Analysis—With the free-agent departure of Stephen Weatherly and the likely loss of Everson Griffen who says he’s moving on after opting out of his contract, the Vikings are thin at the critical defensive end/edge rusher position beyond superstar Danielle Hunter and the fast-emerging Ifeadi Odenigbo (seven sacks last season in his first extended action). The team also signed a five year veteran free agent in Anthony Zettel who will compete for playing time along with two practice squad players from last season—Stacy Keely and Eddie Yarborough.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Vikings select a pass-rushing defensive end with one of their first-round picks if that player rates higher on their draft board than a cornerback, offensive lineman or wide receiver. But I think it’s more likely the team looks to the second or third round for a defensive end as Zimmer and defensive coordinator/D-line coach Andre Patterson has had great success developing mid-round picks into top pass rushers including former third-rounder Hunter and Griffen who was a fourth-round pick along with both Weatherly and Odenigbo as past seventh-round selections. The Vikings also may have plans for a larger pass-rushing role for linebacker Anthony Barr which could lessen their desire to use a high draft pick for a defensive end/pass rusher.
The Vikings are in better shape depth-wise at defensive tackle where they signed a top free agent in Michael Pierce to replace the departed Linval Joseph. They also have returning starter Shamar Stephen and fourth-year vet Jaleel Johnson who played well in several starts when Joseph was injured last season and in the rotation (finishing with 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks). Returnees Jalyn Holmes, Armon Watts and Hercules Mata’afa also have shown promise in limited play so I don’t expect the Vikings to look at defensive tackle until the late rounds unless a top prospect falls to them.
Potential D-line draft targets: The only defensive end/edge rusher certain to be gone early is Chase Young from Ohio State who will probably be picked No. 2 overall by Washington. After Young, there’s a good group of players who could interest the Vikings in the first two rounds including: K’Lavon Chaisson-LSU, A.J. Epenesa-Iowa, Yetur Gross-Matos-Penn State, Zach Baun-Wisconsin (who may be a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker and edge rusher), Terrell Lewis-Alabama, Julian Okwara-Notre Dame and Curtis Weaver-Boise State. Here are some possible third or fourth round targets: Josh Uche-Michigan, Jonathan Greenard-Florida, Jabari Zuniga-Florida, Bradlee Anae-Utah, Darrell Taylor-Tennessee, Alton Robinson-Syracuse and Marlon Davidson-Auburn.
At defensive tackle, the top-rated group that could interest Minnesota in the first or second round and possibly into the third round include: Derrick Brown-Auburn and Javon Kinlaw-South Carolina who are both expected to go in the top 15 plus Neville Gallimore-Oklahoma, Ross Blacklock-TCU, Raekwon Davis-Alabama and Justin Madubuike-Texas A&M. In the third round and beyond, here are some possible targets: Davon Hamilton-Ohio State, Jordan Elliott-Missouri and Benito Jones—Ole Miss.
3. Linebacker: Analysis- This is a position of strength in which there’s no need to draft anyone before the fourth or fifth round at this juncture. It’s also a position that is a prime source of special teams help from the backup linebackers so look for the Vikings to select one or two linebackers in the fourth through seventh rounds.
The Vikings’ starters are excellent, led by Pro Bowlers Eric Kendricks at middle linebacker and Anthony Barr at outside linebacker. Fourth-year man Eric Wilson returns as the other starting outside backer and he had an excellent first season in the starting role last year.
Minnesota has some good backups in former starter Ben Gedeon, last year’s fifth-round pick Cameron Smith and a recent signee in DeMarquis Gates who last played for Houston in the XFL after leading the AAF in tackles before that league folded.
Possible linebacker draft targets: There are three premier linebackers who will be picked in the first or early second round and will not be considered by the Vikings in those rounds: Isaiah Simmons-Clemson (clearly a top 10 pick), Patrick Queen-LSU and Kenneth Murray-Oklahoma.
Here are a few players who the Vikings may tap in the mid to late rounds if they’re available: Malik Harrison-Ohio State, Jordyn Brooks-Texas Tech, Troy Dye-Oregon, Jacob Philips-LSU, Akeem Davis-Gaither-Appalachian State and Willie Gay-Mississippi State.
COVID-19 and Around the Vikings/NFL Observations:
1. Vikings Pro Bowlers Dalvin Cook and Danielle Hunter have donated their $34,628 Madden video game payments from the NFL Players Association to North Memorial Health Foundation in the Twin Cities to help with purchasing personal protective equipment for front-line workers. Cook tweeted, “I want to say THANK YOU to those who continue to put their lives on the line each day and fight COVID-19. Let’s make a difference together.” Hunter understands the need very well when he said “That was very important because I have a grandma in New York who’s a nurse. I feel it’s better to be prepared than not be prepared.”
Cook also contributed $10,000—and the NFL Foundation added $5,000—for the Vikings Table food truck to deliver pre-packaged meals to local nonprofits including The Open Door and The Link where the meals are distributed to hungry homes.
It’s great to see Cook and Hunter, along with many of their Vikings teammates, stepping up in this time of need for so many people.
2. Kirk Cousins addressed the media this week for the first time since signing his two year extension last month. He said he’s “hopeful” for a full 2020 season. He added “With the provision that people and their lives and their health will be safe, I think we can and should get back to football and it would be great for our country, for football fans, to be able to watch games come the fall. However we can make that happen, if we can think outside the box, I say let’s try to do that.”
Cousins also commented on the Stefon Diggs trade by saying, “ It became apparent he wanted to play elsewhere and I think it was smart of the Vikings to grant him that opportunity. I wish him really well. He’s a special player and now we have to find a way to move forward and replace that with a variety of players and create that talented option opposite of Adam (Thielen) on the outside. I’m excited to get started on that challenge.”
Cousins also said he’s “thrilled” to have Gary Kubiak back as the offensive coordinator. “He’s a great coach and I think that was the natural hire and a great choice by Coach Zimmer.”
3. With the usual offseason program disrupted by the pandemic, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed on a voluntary offseason program set to start on Monday that will consist of a virtual period with three weeks of classroom instruction and remote workouts. Teams are permitted to send players workout equipment and monitoring devices. The virtual period will end on May 15 and club facilities will only open for the remainder of the offseason program and/or training camp if all 32 facilities are allowed to open in accordance with NFL protocols and federal, state and local rules and regulations.
It will be quite the challenge for teams to begin getting their new players prepared for what is hoped to be the 2020 season ahead, especially those teams with new coaching staffs.
Jeff Diamond was the NFL Executive of the Year in 1998 after the Vikings' 15-1 season. He also is the former president of the Tennessee Titans. He does sports/business consulting, media and speaking work including corporate and college speaking on Negotiation, Management, Leadership and Sports Business--contact him at diamondj4@comcast.net
