Dec. 27--Information for this report was obtained from NFL scouts.
Xavier Rhodes is in his second season after the Vikings drafted him 25th overall in 2013. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound cornerback set a franchise rookie record with 23 passes defended a year ago and has 17 this season to tie for sixth in the NFL.
Rhodes got his first career interception in the first meeting this season, picking off Jay Cutler just before halftime. He also had five solo tackles in that game.
"This guy has made a big jump in his second year and turned into the player everyone expected when he was coming out of Florida State," the scout said. "He has the measurables every team in the league wants at cornerback right now. He has the size at more than 6 feet and the length. Those guys are hard to find, and when you find one who can play man coverage, bump-and-run, you have to get them.
"When the Vikings played Green Bay at Minnesota, Rhodes went after Jordy Nelson and challenged him. Throw the tape of that game on and he's bumping at the line. That right there is a guy you can build around. I don't think Rhodes is great at playing off man and he's not as fluid as some guys who are 5-10, but this kid was drafted to play Cover-2 for Leslie Frazier and he's much more than that. I don't want to crown the kid. I don't know if he'll ever go to the Pro Bowl, but he is a very good press corner in a league that is headed (in) that direction. He can be a consistent player for a long time and those guys are difficult to find."
