Minnesota Vikings: 5 Biggest needs to address in 2020 NFL Draft

1. Defensive back

Ever since Mike Zimmer took over head coaching duties for the Minnesota Vikings a few years ago, the defensive back group has been one of the deepest and more talented units in the NFL.

Unfortunately for Minnesota is that a good amount of those players hit free agency this offseason while the Vikings didn’t have the cap space to be able to retain most of them.

That reason alone is why the Vikings have their work cut out for them in filling those holes in the back end of the defense and will have to add at least one player in this area in the draft. Don’t be surprised if we see Minnesota picking multiple defensive backs with its 12 picks in the draft.

The first need among the Vikings defense and specifically the defensive back unit is at cornerback. Minnesota lost Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander and others via free agency this offseason and cut Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who ultimately went on to sign elsewhere.

With cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Holton Hill on the roster as of now, the Vikings will have to fill in some roles behind those two players on the depth chart. Minnesota will select a defensive back early on in the draft, either in the first round or at the latest the second round.

The Vikings could also find themselves looking to add a safety to pair alongside Harrison Smith on the back end of the defense. Safety Anthony Harris, who the Vikings franchise tagged at the start of the offseason, is more than capable of being a solid player in that position, that is if Minnesota ultimately decides to hang onto him and his large cap hit going into 2020.

If Minnesota takes a safety in the earlier rounds, that could spell the end of Harris’ time in purple and gold. Either way, the Vikings’ biggest need to address in this draft comes at the defensive back spot.