Texas' Malik Muhammad Is A High-Upside Mid-Round CB

The Minnesota Vikings signed James Pierre in the offseason. Still, the Minnesota Vikings lack youth at cornerback, with Pierre, Byron Murphy Jr., and Rodgers all in their late 20s. Texas’ Malik Muhammad could be the answer to their problem.

Many experts and pundits alike rated the Pierre signing — a two-year, $8.5 million deal — as one of the best deals in free agency, noting that he is one of the most underrated cornerbacks of the past season and should figure to carve out a big role for himself on this team, something Isaiah Rodgers did last season. This was a great move to add another good, experienced corner to the roster, but they shouldn’t stop there.

While playing in the SEC, Malik Muhammad faced future NFL receivers every week. He constantly performed at a high level and became a defender that quarterbacks tried to avoid targeting.

At 6’0”, 182 lbs., Muhammad has the size needed to play corner, but he will need to add some muscle to his frame at the next level. Still, his length and athleticism are intriguing. Muhammad has long arms, a tool most defensive coordinators love to see in cornerbacks. He also has impressive testing numbers with a 4.42 40-yard dash, a 39” vertical, and a 92nd percentile broad jump.

Muhammad is a twitchy corner who excels in both man and zone coverage, and his athletic ability pops on tape.

In man coverage, Muhammad is comfortable with all press, off, and bail techniques, which he demonstrated during his time at Texas. He has ability to read the quarterback's eyes and stick to his zone, triggering downhill when it's time to make a play on the ball. His long arms are in full effect when disrupting receivers at the catch point, showcasing his physicality.

Muhammad has incredibly fluid hips and can easily stay with opposing wideouts as they make their cuts and breaks. When he gets lost, he has the speed to recover and get back on track after missteps.

He also possesses the speed and ability to make an impact on special teams early on in his career. It’s something he showcased early on at Texas when he recovered a blocked punt in the Red River Rivalry game his freshman year.

Muhammad is also a willing and able defender in the run game, often setting the edge. While he’s willing, he sometimes lacks tackling technique, going for shoulder tackles rather than wrapping up properly. His weight and size can hinder him here. At only 182 lbs., he struggles to bring down bigger ball carriers.

His lack of strength also hinders him in coverage. Bigger, stronger wideouts can move him off his spot and create separation through sheer force.

Muhammad sometimes can open his hips prematurely on deeper routes, giving smart route runners easy releases on the inside. He can also be susceptible to double moves, which is common for cornerbacks in his mold. He also lacks the production in the takeaways department that scouts would like to see.

Ultimately, Muhammad’s success will depend on whether he can maintain his playing weight or add muscle. He will likely need some time and won’t be able to start Week 1 of his rookie season, another reason the Vikings could be the right fit for him. He could sit behind the three previously mentioned corners, and potentially Dwight McGlothern, while he continues to add muscle and develop his game. In the meantime, he’d contribute on special teams.

The Vikings could target Malik Muhammad in the third or fourth round. He’s a high-upside corner who allows them to spend higher picks on areas of greater need.