Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida defensive back Kaiir Elam (DB09) talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The 2022 draft for the National Football League is just around the corner. April 28th might seem far away, but it will soon be here, and a lot of attention is put on who teams might draft in the first round.
A lot of guesses are made, but with trades just starting to occur and the start of free agency now a week away, that’s all they are — guesses.
Cornerback might seem an obvious choice for the Vikings right now, but if the Vikings sign two in free agency, that changes. In 2020 Justin Jefferson, wasn’t on anyone’s radar until Stefon Diggs was traded away. I want to look past Day 1 and take a peek at Day 2 draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings.
You always want your first-round pick to turn into a superstar who makes an immediate impact. However, Day 2 can be make or break for your draft. Add a couple of starting-caliber players to your first-round guy, and you are really in business.
I’ve come up with around 40 players who I think can be in play for the Vikings on Day 2. Obviously, all are dependent on what roster movement happens between now and the draft. I will go through them by position groups separately. Let’s get the ball rolling with the defensive backs, assuredly the weakest area of the roster right now. That requires some serious attention.
Kair Elam could be off the board in the latter part of the first round. If he does make it to Day 2, the Vikings should be ready to jump, especially if outside cornerback hasn’t been addressed in the first round or free agency. A long, fluid, physical cornerback who has the explosiveness and instinct to be a quality starter early in his NFL career. He is best suited to a zone/press man scheme and a willing and physical tackler in run support. That checks all the boxes for me.
Even if the Vikings have gone for a corner already, I’d make a case for Kyler Gordon in the second round. He can play inside and out and is an excellent tackler, whether bringing down receivers or in run support. An exceptional athlete with explosive and dynamic movement, Gordon has the talent to be an outside cornerback.
With Ed Donatell’s defense expected to play a lot of nickel, taking up position in the slot in his rookie season would be a great introduction to the team where his tackling ability should shine from Day 1.
Another player with inside/outside potential who could start in the slot and perhaps progress outside is Roger McCreary. He possesses short-area quickness and is not only a willing tackler but shows good technique wrapping up. McCreary is sticky and competitive in coverage and goes hunting for the ball. He can play man and zone coverage to an equally high standard. In short, there is nothing not to like about McCreary, who would be a steal in the second round.
Suppose we are looking for a cornerback in round three. Specifically, to play in the slot, then Marcus Jones is the guy.
He has elite speed and the ability to track receivers downfield while also playing a physical and aggressive style of football that shows up in his run defense, despite his relatively small stature. He is 5’8 and 185 lbs. His size is the only question mark and why he might be available late on Day 2.
Everything else is there, including being an excellent kick and punt returner. Kene Nwangwu probably has the kick return job sewn up, but with Dede Westbrook out of contract, the Vikings could require a new punt returner.
The safety position seems to be getting somewhat overlooked, with so many other positions on the team in dire need of reinforcements. So, my last two Day 2 draft prospects come from the safety position.
Jalen Pitre could be the heir to Harrison Smith’s throne. A strong safety prospect that has the football IQ to move around the line of scrimmage. At the college level, he was moved around to play in FS, SS, ILB, and OLB and had the athleticism and physicality to succeed in all four. He has shown his ball skills with pick-sixes and pass deflections, but with the way Baylor used him. He was predominantly around the line of scrimmage, so his ability to track the ball in the air as a deep safety is largely unknown. Teaming him up with Camryn Bynum would give the Vikings a fearsome young duo at safety for many years.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”971161″ player=”26279″ title=”WATCH%203%20reasons%20why%20the%20Buffalo%20Bills%20should%20trade%20for%20Christian%20McCaffrey” duration=”97″ description=”The Buffalo Bills are certainly going to be in the market for a running back during the 2022 offseason. Whether it’s via free agency, the trade block or the NFL Draft remains to be seen.What we do know is that general manager Brandon Beane needs to find an upgrade. Simply put, Buffalo can’t rely on superstar quarterback Josh Allen to be its most consistent runner.Enter into the equation former NFL All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who could potentially be had in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.” uploaddate=”2022-03-11″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/971120_s_1647033088297.png” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/971120/971120.m3u8″]
The last of my Day 2 draft prospects for the Minnesota Vikings is safety Lewis Cine. A violent hitter who shows up big in the run game. He is also a good tackler in the open field. That is where his strengths lie, while he isn’t so good against the pass. He is sufficient and could do a job in a zone defense but lacks the ball skills you’d want from a coverage safety. At the line of scrimmage and in the run game is where he will do the most damage.