Vikings Draft News: The Projected Top-Five CBs in the 2022 NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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A couple weeks ago on our sister-site, PurplePTSD.com, I posted my first big board for the 2022 NFL Draft listing my top 100 players in the upcoming draft. Keep an eye out for an updated version in the near future over there, but for now, we’re going to dive a little deeper into some of the players on that list, specifically focusing on the Vikings draft.
For the Minnesota Vikings, the 2022 draft will likely focus on the defensive side of the ball. With much of their secondary entering free agency, along with the Jeff Gladney situation that occurred prior to the season, they will likely target the cornerback position early in this loaded draft.
Obviously, at 5-5 the Vikings could move far up and down the draft board over the next month and a half before the regular season ends. That said, the 2022 NFL draft class has 5-6 cornerbacks that could go in the first round, it still seems valuable to get familiar with a few of these prospects. Thus, here is a quick breakdown of the top five CBs on my 2022 big board, and the odds that they’ll be available when the Vikings are selecting.
1. Derek Stingley Jr.
We get these from time-t0-time, but Derek Stingley Jr. feels like one of the few sure-thing prospects going into the draft. At 6’1 and 195 pounds, he has excellent size and length at the CB position. As a floor, he has Trevon Diggs’ ball skills with superior coverage skills. He is able to read routes very well, and his excellent speed keeps him on the heels of any receiver. His physicality allows him to bully players throughout the route.
There are a few concerns, though. Stingley hasn’t played a full season since his 2019 freshman campaign where he helped LSU win a national title with six INTs. While he played extremely well that year, injuries have derailed the past two seasons. Going up against some of the better wide receivers, he also showed some struggles. In 2019, both Van Jefferson and Devonta Smith torched him in their matchups.
Ultimately, will these concerns cause Stingley to fall? Probably not. With players of this caliber it’s best not to overthink it. Stingley has the talent to be a generational CB, and he will almost certainly be the top corner off the board, likely within the first five picks. Unless Minnesota makes a landscape-changing trade, they likely won’t be taking him.
2. Ahmad Gardner
Like Stingley, Ahmad Gardner has perfect NFL size to play the cornerback position. If you saw him when he arrived at Cincinnati it would’ve been shocking to think that we’d be able to say this just a few years later. When he arrived with the Bearcats, Gardner was a mere 160 pounds, and now he measures in at 190-200.
The fact that he was able to maintain his athleticism while putting on that weight is remarkable, and it should earn him a first round selection in this year’s draft. Where exactly he ends up in that first round is still a bit of a question mark, though. Cincinnati has had a historically great year for the program, and Gardner’s play has been an integral part of that success.
Players that lead to winning football should be highly valued, but will an AAC schedule be enough to convince NFL scouts that Gardner is legit? It’s an unanswerable question, which is why I give the Vikings a slightly higher chance of picking him than my next CB.
3. Andrew Booth Jr.
Over the past season and a half, Andrew Booth Jr. has terrorized the ACC with his play at CB for Clemson. Again, his size at 6’0 and near-200 pounds checks him off as another dream prospect for scouts in terms of measurables. Booth excels in man coverage, mirroring receivers on their routes with ease.
His skills in zone coverage are limited right now, but he also doesn’t have a ton of reps in these situations right now. Give him a training camp to learn a zone system, and he could probably do it. With a nose for contact, he’s a hard-hitter that can also be used in some blitz packages as well as against the run.
Given how the order is shaking out at the top, Booth to likely will be off the board by the time pick 15 rolls around, With the Vikings winning games (something fans should be happy about), there is little chance that he’ll be on the board by the time they are on the clock. The next two players are much more likely options for Minnesota.
4. Trent McDuffie
Unlike the first three prospects on this list, Trent McDuffie’s measurables aren’t quite up to snuff when compared to the others listed before him. He is small for an outside CB and will likely struggle against longer receivers in the NFL.
That said, there is very little other than that to knock on McDuffie. Sometimes fight is more important than size, and the Washington Huskie has plenty of fight in him. He is the best tackler of this group, and he thrives in zone coverage. His movements and footwork are always smooth and with a sense of purpose. McDuffie never finds himself out of rhythm and never plays panicked.
McDuffie looks to be a mid-late first round selection right now. With Minnesota’s position falling, he should be high on the Vikings draft board.
5. Roger McCreary
Roger McCreary is a prototypical NFL prospect in terms of size and athleticism. He’s listed at an even 6’0 and just under 195 pounds. Using this size, the Auburn Tiger is a great tackler, limiting yards both after the catch and in the running game.
In terms of actual coverage ability, McCreary is a bit of a raw prospect. His technique in man coverage especially could use some work as his footwork isn’t the smoothest off the line of scrimmage. Zone coverage is his clear specialty, and he should also see some reps in special teams coverage as well.
Assuming at least a couple quarterbacks are selected, McCreary projects to be a late-20s selection in the first round of this draft. Maybe the Vikings go on a run to close the season and are picking in this area, and if so, Minnesota should take him.
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