Image courtesy of Vikings.com
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.
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!
View Comments
I'm not sold on anybody anymore after this "silly season." I would be surprised if we draft at #11. One way or another it's going to be another interesting first round for us Viking fans.
I do agree that the first round could be very interesting. I'm starting to really like the idea of drafting Parker to help our offense become more potent. Perhaps the Vikings could get back into the 1st round and get a corner also. Whoever the Vikings do draft I have to believe Rick, Zim, and the staff know what they are doing and will get a good player. By the way, in your draft, I didn't seem to find Parker being drafted in the 1st round. I find that hard to believe.
Thanks for catching that — it's a mistake i went in and fixed this morning. Parker goes to the Dolphins at 14 in my latest draft.
Classic RS smokescreen. Do you really think they'd leak who they actually like at this point? Plus, Peters > Waynes
I trust Zimmer and RS if that's who they really want, but I doubt they let that info get out there right now.
It's hard to tell. Spielman's been great at keeping things in-house. I struggle with his true intentions though, because I've seen him make a surprising move or two (Christian Ponder, anyone?). I agree that Peters is the better prospect, but hey, only the guys in Minnesota know what's going on.
This draft is much more difficult to predict than the past 4. I don't think we'll take Waynes (originally one of my favorite prospects). I believe we'll either:
1. Trade down
2. Draft one of the top prospects who falls like every year (Schreff, Cooper, White, Fowler Jr., Beasley, or even Williams)
3. If we stand pat and if none of the top names fall I'd predict Ricky takes Peters
I agree,especially with #3.Peters is a better fit for a Zimmer corner.
When we started talking draft,I really liked the idea of a WR,but now I think we are much more likely to go defence.
I didn't factor trades into my mock, like Carl, but I do think trading back is a possibility.
Who knows any more at this point? We could use talent/depth at every position except QB -- no TE not excepted, either.
BPA except for Mariota or Winston.
In other news Hernandez found guilty. Not disputing this result, nor have I really followed the trial, but does it bother anybody else that there seems to be no motive? Or none that I heard.
He killed Odin Lloyd because he was paranoid that Lloyd was going to open his mouth about the fact that he killed Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. He killed Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado because one of them accidentally spilled a drink on his shoes and he believed they were laughing at him and deliberately antagonizing him (he hasn't been tried for these murders yet). He was also in the paranoid throes of a crystal meth addiction, which explains the relatively trivial nature of these motives. He's also a big time a-hole.
well I guess meth will do that to you. Either a big time a-hole or else you think you are the Messiah, which, come to think of it, usually comes to the same thing.
Zimmer is a fixer, he loves to fix players. The Vikings have so many directions they can go, and that also gives them leverage. I 'd look for them to strike a deal with Cleveland again.
If one of the top prospects does not fall to #11, hopefully Spielmann can do the trade down & trade back up deal again to get 2 first rounders