Minnesota Vikings: 7-Round 2020 mock draft after Divisional Round loss

Most people likely have the Minnesota Vikings taking a cornerback in the first round. And considering the way Xavier Rhodes and those behind him performed this season, it’d be hard to blame the franchise for doing so. But with the way the board fell, the chance to get a premium prospect in South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw was too tasty to pass up in favor of reaching a bit for a corner.

Kinlaw exploded onto the scene this past season, realizing much of the potential we previously saw with him. The Gamecock got his body right for his senior campaign and made him a powerful beast on the interior with unreal and game-wrecking explosiveness. If there’s an issue with Kinlaw, it’s his technique that needs more work. However, with his tools and the need for depth on the interior in Minnesota, you have to like this fit.

Traditionally when Spielman and Zimmer have drafted cornerbacks relatively early, they’ve targeted players like Rhodes who are big bodies that can be physical. In terms of his build, TCU’s Jeff Gladney may not fit that mold. However, when you look at the way he plays and the mentality he brings onto the gridiron, he plays like a man much bigger than he is — but also brings skills that bigger players can’t match.

Gladney is extremely physical in the run game and not afraid to press and jam up receivers. He’s fantastic in man coverage but also had success in zone as well for the Horned Frogs. What makes his physicality so enticing is that he’s also a great athlete with speed and quickness to burn. And while he may not have requisite height and length that Zimmer might want, he’s the type of player that could get the defense back on track after a down season.