Not Juice — Vikings Select Different CB in NFL.com Mock Draft
So far in the NFL mock draft cycle, the Minnesota Vikings are most commonly linked to Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner from the University of Cincinnati.
In most draft previews, Gardner is the secondary cornerback off the board, playing second fiddle to LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.
Well, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah changed that on Friday, mock-drafting Stingley Jr., not Sauce, to the Vikings in his first mock draft of 2022. In a change of pace, Jeremiah considers Sauce this draft’s top corner, choosing him with the sixth-overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. Jeremiah even took the University of Washington’s Trent McDuffie off the board before Stingley Jr., placing the cornerback on the New York Jets with the 10th pick in Round 1.
On Stingley Jr. to the Vikings, Jeremiah opined:
“Stingley is a wild card in this draft class. If you watched him solely as a freshman, you think he is a lock to go top five. If you watched him over the last two seasons, though, you probably think he’s a borderline first-rounder. He has the tools to be successful at the next level, but I have concerns about his inconsistent effort and play strength.”
Just like Garnder in a handful of mock drafts before Jeremiah’s edition, selecting Stingley Jr. fills a colossal need for the Vikings. Although the team drafted four 1st-Round cornerbacks since 2013, none of those men remain – and only one startable corner at all is under contract in Minnesota for 2022. That’s Cameron Dantzler. And Dantzler will need help.
The other three men who played ample snaps for the Vikings in 2021 may or may not return in 2022. Bashaud Breeland was waived by Minnesota weeks ago. Mackensie Alexander struggled immensely – to the tune of one of the worst corners in the NFL during 2021 per Pro Football Focus. Patrick Peterson performed well, but he might’ve been a one-and-done with the Vikings as he purportedly signed last spring because of the allure of Mike Zimmer. The Vikings terminated Zimmer on Black Monday.
That’s a long way of saying the Vikings are bare-bones at CB early in the offseason. The next general manager – who should be hired within the next week – will be tasked will signing or drafting game-ready cornerbacks. Otherwise, 2022 would be Dantzler, Kris Boyd, and Harrison Hand versus the world. Less than ideal.
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If the Vikings buck the theories of Sauce or Stingley Jr. in the 1st Round, well, they need an EDGE rusher and some linebackers. Danielle Hunter isn’t guaranteed to return in 2022 – his contract will need attention – and D.J. Wonnum doesn’t look like a bonafide starting defensive end (at least not a Pro Bowl one). The EDGE-rushing outlook is bleak if Hunter lands elsewhere. For linebackers, Anthony Barr is as good as gone, leaving Eric Kendricks and untested options at the strongside and weakside. The Vikings need meat at every level of the defense – DE, LB, and CB. Buckle up.
Moreover, the 1st-Round pick could be spent on a quarterback, if the new general manager feels funky. That person’s very first decision will involve Kirk Cousins. Trade him or extend him – that is the primary order of business by the top dog.
If Cousins remains in purple, most draft brains foresee a cornerback entering Minnesota’s fold in Round 1. And Jeremiah’s prognostication is the latest to affirm the thought process.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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