Mock draft season is well under way and the direction in which the experts have the Vikings going is rather uncertain. Last season, the offensive line was predicted to be the primary focus for the Vikings, but the team has a few more areas that need to be addressed in 2020.
One of those areas will have huge implications on where Anthony Harris ends up in free agency. If Minnesota finds a way to pay Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 rated safety, then the Vikings would have no reason to spend an early round pick on a replacement option. However, Harris recently stated that he would like to stay in Minnesota, but also said he’s going to keep his options open.
During the week of the combine Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said that the safety position isn’t the most critical piece to his defense. Though that might be the case, getting the son of former Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield would be too perfect of a fit for the Vikings.
The former Gophers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. finished his 2019 season with 85 tackles, two forced fumbles, three sacks and seven interceptions. The stats alone prove that he has a nose for the football, and he was a big part of the Gophers’ 11-2 season in 2019.
Pairing up Winfield Jr. with Harrison Smith would be a perfect match because of his ball-hawking skill set. It would allow Smith to continue to play his hybrid role, while giving Zimmer two safeties who have endless capabilities at the position.
On top of all that, if Winfield Jr. becomes 80% of the tackler that his dad was in the NFL, he would be one of the most fun players to watch in this draft class.
It’s not the most glaring need for the Vikings, but the addition of Winfield Jr. would just make everything feel right for the state of Minnesota.
