Vikings Have New Mock Draft Darling
Move over, Cam Smith.
The South Carolina cornerback was the player most frequently linked to the Minnesota Vikings via early-draft lead-up, but the projection is changing. As of the last couple of weeks, Smith is no longer “the guy” for Minnesota in credible mock drafts. The new team has a new mock draft darling — cornerback Deonte Banks from Maryland.
The Vikings have been linked to Banks a few times in recent days, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid was the latest personality. Reid told Vikings reporter Gabe Henderson Thursday, “Deonte Banks from Maryland — he’s one I would put a gold star beside if I was Vikings fans. I think he’s going to be a name you see projected to the Vikings.”
Vikings Have New Mock Draft Darling
Standing 6’2″ and tipping scales at 205 pounds, Banks is a beefy physical corner in the mold of Xavier Rhodes from Vikings lore. Choosing Banks with the 23rd pick is about where his draft stock stands before the NFL Combine, which kicked off this week. If you’re wondering, as of early March, “who will the Vikings draft?” it’s this guy, according to draft brains.
Before the Reid call-out, ESPN’s Mel Kiper mock-drafted Banks to Minnesota, too. Kiper wrote this week, “New mock draft, same position the Vikings should target. New defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants to be aggressive, but he needs the cornerbacks to do that, even if free agent Patrick Peterson returns. The 6-foot-2 Banks is coming off a breakout season in which he locked down opposing wideouts — often in man-to-man coverage — and had eight pass breakups and a pick.”
“His tape is impressive, and I’ve heard he’s going to run in the low 4.3-second range in the 40-yard dash at the combine. That’s elite for his size. Andrew Booth Jr., a second-round pick last year, should be in the mix for more snaps, but Banks has No. 1 corner potential,” Kiper surmised.
Moreover, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah forecasted Banks for the Vikings nine days ago. He noted, “Banks has good size, and I think you’ll see his stock rise as the evaluation process unfolds. The cornerback is physical and tough.”
Pro Football Focus mock-drafted Banks to the Vikings, too, on Monday.
As of March 2nd, the Vikings employ Andrew Booth, Cameron Dantzler, and Akayleb Evans as possibly-startable cornerbacks, and that trio doesn’t inspire much trust. Tay Gowan and Kalon Barnes are also on the roster but aren’t considered starting material. In new defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive system, Minnesota needs at least one “sure thing” at cornerback, and Booth-Dantzler-Evans are not that. The trio could raise eyebrows in a good way this summer, but expecting such leaves a lot to chance.
Banks tallied 38 total tackles, 8 passes defended, and 1 interception in 2022, his final season as a Terrapin. The knock on him is injury, as he played just 30 games in college. He’s also said to lack explosiveness and closing speed.
The Vikings have drafted three men from the Unversity of Maryland since 1961 — E.J. Henderson (LB) in 2003, Jeff Dugan (TE) in 2004, and Stefon Diggs (WR) in 2015.
The NFL draft begins in 56 days.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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