CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
The Minnesota Vikings made a lot of moves in free agency this offseason, including a trade of star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills. They also cut cornerback Xavier Rhodes and arguably their second-best offensive lineman, Josh Kline.
The team did bring in some players like wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, defensive tackle Michael Pierce, defensive end Anthony Zettel, and linebacker Demarquis Gates. They also re-signed Dan Bailey, Britton Colquitt, Dakota Dozier, C.J. Ham and Ameer Abdullah. For having limited funds to work with, the Vikings were more active than many figured they would be.
There is one move they didn't make in free agency, which could show what they are planning to do in the first round of the draft: Not bringing in a free agent cornerback.
The Vikings cut Rhodes, which was something they had to do. His play had fallen off a cliff in recent years and the money the Vikings owed him this upcoming season was well more than he was worth. The Vikings also lost Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes in free agency.
While those moves weren't unexpected, many figured the team would be able to re-sign one of them, but that didn't happen. What is most surprising of all is that the Vikings didn't bring in a single free agent cornerback.
There were plenty of options out there and still are.
Veteran players like Logan Ryan, Darqueze Dennard and Morris Claiborne have yet to land with a new team. There were also solid and experienced players who signed cheaply with other teams. Nickell Robey-Coleman was signed by the Eagles on a one-year deal worth a paltry $1 million. P.J. Williams got just a one-year deal for $2 million to return to the Saints next season, and Ronald Darby got a one-year deal for $4 million from the Redskins.
The Vikings, even with their limited budget, could've afforded any of those deals. The fact they didn't make one move shows that they either really like their current group of cornerbacks, or they firmly believe they can bring in a starting-caliber corner in the first round.
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Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Some names that should be on the Vikings' radar are Kristian Fulton, Jeff Gladney, A.J. Terrell and Jaylon Johnson. The problem with the cornerback class is that after Jeffrey Okudah and C.J. Henderson, opinions widely vary on who is the next best prospect. There is no slam dunk for the third cornerback in this class, and it will come down to a team's preference.
Fulton has the size, length, coverage skills and speed to fit nicely into Mike Zimmer's defense. He does have some character issues with a failed drug test in his past, and an overall lack of production at LSU with just 42 tackles and two interceptions in his career.
While a lot of that has to do with teams being unwilling to throw the ball his way, for a first-round choice, the Vikings would love to see a little more production.
Gladney is an aggressive corner who plays with a ton of energy but at 5'10" lacks the size Zimmer likes in his cover men. Johnson has the size but not the speed, as he ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at the combine. Terrell has the size and speed but doesn't have great ball skills, breaking up just 13 passes in his three-year career at Clemson.
Even with these prospects all having some sort of flaw, these players are all as talented, if not more, than what the Vikings currently have on their roster with Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd.
The lack of signing a veteran cornerback also brings up another possibility. Will the Vikings use both of their first-round picks to solve their issue at cornerback?
The top of the Vikings' cornerback depth chart has plenty of concerns. Hughes has issues staying healthy, Hill was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy multiple times and is one bad decision away from a season-long expulsion and Boyd still needs to develop. The Vikings could decide to bring in two cornerbacks in the first round, as it would be a cost-effective way to bring in high-level talent and insurance if Hughes gets hurt again or Hill suspended.
Hughes and Hill shouldn't just be handed the starting jobs, and having them compete with a couple of first-round rookies would make everyone better.
With the Vikings not bringing in a free agent cornerback prior to the draft, it shows that this is a position they believe they can address early. The chances are extremely high that one of their first-round choices is a cornerback and it is possible they use both of those selections to bolster Zimmer's favorite position.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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