The Vikings had to say goodbye to one of its starting cornerbacks from last season, but based on the price he commanded in free agency, the move makes sense.
Waynes didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet last season. He had eight pass deflections, and only one interception.
But the Bengals reportedly saw something in him. Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported that the deal is three years and worth $42 million.
That is just too steep of a price for a player of Waynes caliber. Don’t get me wrong, it would have been nice to have more continuity on the defense. He’s a serviceable cornerback, and based on what some cornerbacks are getting, I can see why the Bengals did it.
For instance, Byron Jones, who granted most people would consider a better corner than Waynes, agreed to a deal for five years and $82.5 million, per ESPN.
Cornerback Bradley Roby was slightly better than Waynes last season but not by much. Roby had two interceptions and eight pass deflections. He agreed to a deal that was for three years, $36 million, per NFL.com.
A team strapped for cash as the Vikings should set their sights elsewhere. This is a draft that’s pretty deep for corners, and the market suggests that Minnesota would have had to break the bank for corner that’s as good as Waynes.
The Stefon Diggs trade is tough for the team from a wide receiver standpoint, but now the Vikings have 12 picks. Those early-round picks can go a long way to making sure Waynes is replaced, and the Vikings saved money in the process.
