What the Vikings have lost in veteran talent at cornerback, they’ve gained in rookies who have the potential to be just as good.
Xavier Rhodes signed with the Colts this offseason. In 2019, Rhodes had no picks and made six pass deflections. He earned a coverage grade of 46.5 last season.
Trae Waynes will arguably be the most difficult corner to replace, but even he wasn’t stellar for the Vikings. Waynes had eight pass deflections and one interception. He earned an overall grade of 65.1 from PFF.
There’s also Mackensie Alexander, the team’s nickel corner from 2019. Alexander signed with the Bengals, the same team as Waynes.
Alexander is coming off a season where he had five pass deflections and an interception in a slightly more limited role than Rhodes and Waynes. PFF reported that Alexander was the only defensive back to play more than 500 snaps in 2019-20 and never miss a tackle. The outlet gave Alexander an overall score of 65.7.
Waynes and Alexander were both decent, but there’s a chance that whomever is playing corner for the Vikings in 2020 is better. Here are three storylines surrounding the position group:
Will Jeff Gladney be a starter?
The Vikings attempted to shore up the cornerback position in the first round, by taking Gladney No. 31 overall.
Gladney is a physical corner who fits in with the Vikings defense well. But there is a question as to whether he will be one of the players out wide, or be a nickel corner.
Gladney will compete for the spots out wide with Mike Hughes and Holton Hill. There’s also Kris Boyd, Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand, who could possibly move up the depth chart and take one of the starting spots.
Maybe Gladney is a slot corner, but I like the outlook of this team a little better if he isn’t.
Can Mike Hughes stay healthy?
Hughes has been good for the Vikings when he’s been on the field, it’s the being on the field part that has been the problem.
Hughes’ early seasons have unfortunately been marred by injuries. He suffered a neck injury recently. Before that injury, he tore his ACL.
Hughes will likely be a big contributor on the Vikings 2020 defense — in some capacity. Whether he’s a starter out wide, in the slot or playing safety occasionally, it helps to have him on the field. Here’s to hoping he’s available for all 16 regular season games and the playoffs if need be.
Can Cameron Dantzler be the best rookie on defense?
Dantzler has been listed at 185 pounds, but his 6-2 frame and skill on the field gives him a high ceiling.
Nicknamed “The Needle,” Dantzler proved he could be a shutdown corner against top competition in college.
Pro Football Focus reported that the No. 1 overall pick and former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow garnered an overall grade of 95.2 out of 100 in his final collegiate season.
However, when he played against Dantzler, Burrow had a grade of just 70.8. He had 13 yards, 0 touchdowns and a passer rating of 57.3 against Danztler.
Danztler also gave up zero touchdowns and one reception in the red zone in 2019, per PFF, despite being targeted 15 times in that area of the field. If he adds weight and starts to thrive early for the Vikings, he has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks on the team.
