Cornerback Jeff Gladney was taken by the Vikings after the team traded back to No. 31.
Gladney, a physically imposing player out of TCU, has a chance to come in and start on Minnesota’s defense right away.
That’s because the team has seen its share of offseason departures. Cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Xavier Rhodes, both of whom were starters in 2019, signed with other teams in free agency. Vikings nickel corner, Mackensie Alexander, also signed with a different team.
There are several openings in the secondary, which gives Gladney good odds of making an impact as a rookie. BetMGM has Gladney at +4,000 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. He is tied for 14th in odds, with defensive backs Kristian Fulton and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Gladney will have to compete for playing time with the likes of Holton Hill and Mike Hughes. Those two have struggled to consistently stay on the field for the Vikings, but they have been good at times when with the team.
