Minnesota Vikings: Early look at 2021 NFL Draft needs

Minnesota Vikings 2021 NFL Draft Need: Secondary

While there’s an ongoing joke about Rick Speilman and his love for defensive backs in Minnesota, his draft record more than solidifies the significance he puts on the secondary. Speilman has drafted five first-round defensive backs dating back to his first draft in charge of the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. The Vikings have had success between Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes but did not see the same expected returns in 2015 selection Trae Waynes or 2018 selection Mike Hughes.

No position group for the Vikings had more turnover last year than at cornerback after seeing the departures of Rhodes, Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander and the Vikings used one of their two first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft on TCU corner, Jeff Gladney. Gladney struggled with injuries early in the season but finished the year leading the Vikings with snaps at the position, ahead of third-round counterpart Cameron Dantzler.

Between Gladney and Dantzler, the Vikings look to have a young and talented future at corner and further strengthen their unit with the free agency signing of three-time All-Pro Patrick Peterson. While Peterson’s form has dropped after eight Pro-Bowl seasons in the desert, he continued to produce turnovers, leading the Cardinals with three interceptions.

At 31, Peterson gives the Vikings an experienced playmaker at corner but is unlikely to be in Minnesota significantly longer than his one-year “prove it” deal. The Peterson signing should signal the Vikings will not look to add another corner in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but Speilman could still improve his secondary this spring by selecting his first first-round safety since Smith in 2012.

Anthony Harris, a six-year starter with the Vikings, left Minnesota at the end of his contract and remains a current free agent. While the Vikings were able to retain Harrison Smith this offseason, Minnesota could look to continue their rebuild in the secondary and draft Smith’s counterpart or replacement. Smith enters the final year of his contract at 32-years-old and carries a cap hit of just over $10 million indicating he could be another cap casualty or free agent to be.

Safety has not exactly been targeted in the first round of the NFL Draft in recent years. In fact, there was not a single safety prospect selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, a trend that could continue this spring. Former Jeff Gladney teammate and TCU safety Trevon Moehrig projects to be the first safety selected in the 2021 NFL Draft and could play either position for the Minnesota Vikings as a counterpart or replacement to Smith.

While there is not a standout prospect at the position, Moehrig will likely be off the board by the time the Vikings are back on the clock in the third round. There appears to be adequate depth at the position and the Vikings could double-dip at the position, using one of their third-round picks on Harris’s replacement.

Oregon safety Jevon Holland could be a good day two pick at free safety and provides flexibility as another nickel corner. Likewise, UCF’s Richie Grant and Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen possess the skillsets allowing them to lineup opposite or behind Smith.