Minnesota Vikings: Why Trae Waynes Would Fit In

There are 30 days until the NFL Draft is appearing on all of our TVs.

Fans will be clenching their couches, chairs, or whatever it may be that we’ll be sitting on. With your left hand squeezing ever so tightly and having your cell phone in the other hand, all you can do is hope and pray that your favorite team drafts the right player that can make an immediate impact in the upcoming season, and for the future.

While the Minnesota Vikings have gone through an odd, bizarre year, narrowing down who to select is getting a little bit easier. It seems as if it really just comes down to getting help on the offensive line, secondary, or maybe even at the wide receiver position.

Nov 2, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes (15) celebrates the win over the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. MSU won 29-6. Mandatory Credit:

Mike Carter

-USA TODAY Sports

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If Adrian Peterson ends up staying in Minnesota, the Vikings won’t have to worry on whether or not the running game will be questionable. There will be no need to go out of the way at the No. 11 pick to get Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon or Georgia’s Todd Gurley. The running back position is hardly even acknowledged anymore in the draft, anyways. So let’s immediately throw out that situation.

In ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, he has Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes going to the Vikings. Now drafting a game changer like Waynes is almost ideal, and you could say that for almost any team. The Vikings need a cornerback, and drafting Waynes with the No. 11 pick could be great for them.

Xavier Rhodes has the potential to be an excellent cornerback in the NFL. After all, he continues to develop his skills each game. On top of that, let’s not forget the Vikings added veteran Terence Newman to the depth chart. He’ll help out the younger guys and be able to play on both sides of the field.

Waynes would fit in with the Vikings with ease. He’s considered to be the top cornerback in this draft, and he has proven himself every reason to be. At 6’1″, Waynes weighs himself in at 182 pounds, so he already has a good frame to match up with a majority of the receivers in the NFL. Yeah, his frame is nice and all, but what really separates himself from other defensive backs is his speed.

Waynes flashed his skill and athleticism during the NFL combine, bolting to a 4.31 40-yard dash time, and flying to a 38-inch vertical leap. There was question whether Waynes was the best corner in this draft until the combine, where he really separated himself from the rest of the pack. Leaving the rest of the corners in the dust, Waynes without question had the best 40 time at the position.

In his two seasons as a starter, he allowed only two touchdowns. In his junior season, which was a great year for Waynes, he recorded 34 tackles and snagged three interceptions on the year, helping the Spartans earn an 11-2 overall record.

Sep 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) breaks up a pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver

Julio Jones

(11) during the third quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Waynes has that cocky attitude on the field and sparks energy to his teammates all game. Physically and mentally, he has everything you can ask for in a cornerback. If this is the route that the Vikings choose to take, they won’t be disappointed, and neither should the fans. With drafting Waynes, the Vikings will get a tough and insanely athletic player who plays great defense. He plays excellent man-to-man coverage and would more than likely find his way into the starting role alongside Rhodes, forcing Captain Munnerlyn into the slot role.

Drafting a player like Waynes automatically improves Minnesota’s defense, which allowed 344.7 total yards against in the 2014 season (223.2 through the air). The defense is basically young (aside from Newman). Adding Waynes to the roster seems as if it would only have it’s pros and hardly any cons.

Next: Should the Vikings Draft a Receiver?

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