Minnesota Vikings: Best option with the 11th pick?

By Dan Salem | Apr 9, 2015

The Minnesota Vikings are a good team in a brutal division, stuck with a challenge at pick eleven. Do they improve their defense or bolster an emerging offensive unit? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL TD Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream and debate the NFL and sports.

TODD:

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With the 11th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select…?

Minnesota is a team on the rise. It had a surprisingly solid season last year despite the loss of Adrian Peterson. The Vikes actually finished with the seventh-best point differential in the conference.

A full year of Teddy Bridgewater behind center will do wonders for his and the offense’s development. The team could use some offensive line help and perhaps another receiver even after the trade for Mike Wallace. On defense, Minnesota could use some pass rush depth as well as help in the defensive backfield.

But the Vikings are picking 11th. They don’t have their pick of the litter. So it comes to this. You’re Minnesota and you’re on the clock at 11. Who do you take between these two choices?

A) CB Trae Waynes
B) OT Andrus Peat

Waynes is widely considered the best cornerback in this draft. He could go in the top 10, but is just as likely to be available when Minnesota selects. After a tremendous season at Michigan State, the only thing scouts worried about was his top-end speed. After running in the 4.3s at the combine, even that has been answered.

Although there is some debate about the offensive line prospects in this draft, most folks consider Peat the second-best guy available after Brandon Scherff. Since Scherff is likely to be off the table at 11, the Vikings will have the option of taking the second-best guy and someone who projects as a starting left tackle in this league.

Which player does Minnesota take with the 11th pick?

Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker

Audie Cole

(57) celebrates his defensive play against the Chicago Bears with

Xavier Rhodes

in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

Putting up seven wins last season was respectable, but Minnesota has its work cut out if it hopes to catch the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in the NFC North. Such high competition leaves me torn on who the Vikings should select at eleven.

Minnesota struggled mightily in the passing game last season, yet stopped the pass fairly well. The opposite was true for rushing, as they ranked very low on defense, yet fairly well on offense considering the loss of their best running back and best player.

Inherently I love bolstering the offensive line, especially when the run game is your team’s strength and your quarterback is still learning how to win. Yet the choice for the Vikings is cornerback Trae Waynes.

Just like how every AFC East team scrambled to strengthen their pass defense this offseason to combat Mr. Tom Brady, the teams in the NFC North would be wise to do the same. Minnesota has to face off with Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers each twice next season, accounting for a quarter of their schedule. Adding the best corner in the draft, and a speedster at the combine, is a practical necessity.

Harrison Smith notched five interceptions for the Vikings last season, the most on the team. The unit as a whole only made thirteen total takeaways through the air, a number that must improve for Minnesota to make the playoffs. The pick at eleven is Trae Waynes. Although it pains me to pass on a solid lineman, the glue of a team, improving this defense from good to great is more important.

Next: A Solution to end the Adrian Peterson drama

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