MOCK UPDATE: Trae it Ain’t So, Vikings
I love DeVante Parker.
I love his size, I love his 80″ wing span, and I love his ball skills in the red zone. I love that he played with Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville, and I love that he caught 28 touchdowns from Bridgewater between 2011 and 2013. I love his fit in Norv Turner’s offense, and I love Luke Inman’s description of Parker as “Randy Moss-Lite”.
But in my latest mock draft, I don’t love drafting him 11th-overall.
Why? Because the Vikings reportedly love Trae Waynes, and I’m not one to come between Mike Zimmer and his affection for athletic cornerbacks.
It all started after the Vikings’ 13-9 victory over the Bears in Week 17 last season, when Zimmer was asked to comment on the development of second-year corner Xavier Rhodes:
[quote_center]“He’s got a chance to be a really good football player, and he’s going to progress more with the mental aspect of the game.”[/quote_center]
As the Star Tribune’s Master Tesfatsion noted, Zimmer paused briefly to compose himself, giving reporters a look into the deep bond he had formed with Rhodes over the course of the season. Rhodes entered the league as a top cornerback prospect in 2013, but struggled through injuries his rookie year.
Zimmer arrived as the Vikings’ new head coach following the 2013 season, ready to turn around one of the league’s worst passing defenses. In his six years as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator, Zimmer’s units consistently shut down offense’s passing games — four times, they finished in the top-10 of passing yards allowed.
That success stemmed from Zimmer’s development of cornerbacks and defensive backs in Cincinnati. Players like Terence Newman (now a member of the Minnesota Vikings) and Leon Hall played an aggressive style on the outside, jamming opposing receivers and providing support in the run game.
In 2014, Zimmer asked Rhodes to adopt this style, and Rhodes thrived. He finished with a career-high 18 pass deflections, hauled in his first interception, and recorded 48 tackles while becoming a more willing run defender. Under Zimmer, Rhodes developed into the premier corner that the Vikings so desperately needed.
Who will line up on the opposite side of the field in 2015? All signs point to Trae Waynes, even if he’s not the surefire prospect many have made him out to be.
Why Waynes?
Waynes, like Rhodes, is a taller, lengthier corner. At 6’0″, 186 pounds, he has enough size to disrupt lanky receivers, and enough speed to keep up with the faster pass catchers in man coverage. At February’s NFL Scouting Combine, Waynes ran the fastest 40-yard dash among cornerbacks, clocking in at 4.31 seconds. His greatest strength lies in that speed, which allows him to eliminate separation down the field and attack almost any throw from sideline to sideline.
Coming from Michigan State, Waynes is well-coached with a developed understanding of route concepts and leverage in zone coverage. Unlike Rhodes, though, Waynes enters the NFL Draft as a sound tackler and eager run defender.
His outstanding combine vaulted him to the top of the cornerback rankings, but Waynes’ game does not come without questions or critiques. His speed is best in a straight line, and Waynes struggles at times to mirror quicker, short-burst receivers (i.e. Randall Cobb). Though smooth in deep man coverage, Waynes’ hips tighten underneath, which allows separation at the top of routes. These flaws contribute to the Michigan State senior’s biggest concern — holding and grabbing of the jersey. Waynes was penalized 9 times over the last two seasons, and resorts to holding if he senses defeat.
Still, Mike Zimmer is a defensive-minded head coach, and he’ll be anxious to shore up an improving secondary. With Rhodes and Waynes on the outside, Captain Munnerlyn would be free to play solely in the slot. Josh Robinson would become the Vikings’ fourth corner, giving Zimmer multiple options in the secondary.
Waynes may not be the best cornerback in the draft, but he fits the Mike Zimmer mold — tall, aggressive, and fast. Washington’s Marcus Peters and Connecticut’s Byron Jones will most likely be available with the 11th-overall pick, but Waynes is the popular option among draft experts. I love DeVante Parker, but if Zimmer loves Waynes, then I do, too.
#InZimWeTrust
Check out my full mock draft HERE, and be sure to follow Vikings Territory for all of the latest updates out of Minnesota!