Vikings Corners

The Minnesota Vikings will start preparations for the 2016 NFL season with 10 corners on the roster.

Xavier Rhodes
Trae Waynes
Captain Munnerlyn
Terence Newman
Mackensie Alexander
Jabari Price
Marcus Sherels
Melvin White
Keith Baxter
Tre Roberson

This is a group of intriguing potential.

Historically, the Vikings haven't put a lot of emphasis on adding top talent at cornerback. When Xavier Rhodes was selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft it was only the second time in franchise history that the Vikings had used a first round pick on the position. Second! DeWayne Washington was the first in 1994 and he's probably better known for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings have had some nice corners over the years but they haven't found them in the first round of the draft. Since Rhodes, Trae Waynes was added in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Just to prove that an NFL team can never have enough quality corners, the Vikings selected Mackensie Alexander in the second round of last week's draft. That's three top picks at the corner position in the last four years and it marks a significant, and refreshing, change in team strategy. With the rate at which teams are throwing the ball these days it's a smart change.

Rhodes and Waynes should be the Vikings starting corners this year. Much of the media, and most of the Vikings fans, have overreacted at the lack of playing time that Waynes saw as a rookie last season. They seem to forget that corner is a very difficult position to play at any level. Let alone the NFL level. Even the most skilled of corners often struggle their first year. Rhodes only started six games as a rookie and it wasn't until the end of that season that he started playing like a top-pick talent. The Vikings also needed Rhodes to start that season. They didn't need Waynes to start last season. They had the ageless Terence Newman to do that. The then 37-year old, long-time starter for Mike Zimmer was solid all season. He was like a coach on the field for a strong, but young, defense. He was also a coach and mentor for the young corners off the field. Waynes in particular. Newman's return this year is most significant for those off the field reasons as Waynes should be ready to be on the field a lot. Despite all of the doom-sayers outside the team. Rhodes and Waynes have the talent and potential to be one of the best young corner duos in the league. Perhaps as early as this year.

Captain Munnerlyn was solid as the Vikings nickel corner last year. With passing being the NFL's preferred means of moving the football he was on the field over 60% of the defensive snaps. Unless there's some drastic, and unforeseen change, in NFL strategy that percentage should only increase. The Vikings had to be surprised and feel a little lucky to have Alexander still available when they selected in the second round. He was a top-15 talent that dropped, I guess, due to his zero college interceptions. That number was due more to his ability to lock down receivers and the frequent decision of opposing quarterbacks to not challenge him. Alexander often said that he was the best corner in the draft. He might be right and the Vikings were real lucky to have the opportunity to select him in the second round. He projects as the Vikings nickel of the future and he has the talent to challenge Munnerlyn for the job this year. The Munnerlyn-Alexander competition could be the most entertaining competition of training camp. The Vikings young corner trio of Rhodes, Waynes, and Alexander is a big reason why the future, and present, of the Vikings defense is considered so bright.

The training-camp-invite-to-impact-football-player story of Marcus Sherels is inspiring. He's been considered a roster long-shot nearly every one of his six NFL seasons. Every summer is supposed to be his last in the league. Every summer he's still on the roster in the fall. He makes his impact on special teams. He's one of the best punt returners in the league. He's a contributor on nearly all special team units. It feels like he makes a play, or more, in every game that turns things the Vikings way. Sherels is simply one of those football players that good teams always have. He's one of those players that good teams need.

Jabari Price showed some promise as a rookie in 2014. His 2015 season was wiped out by injury. For a street free agent Melvin White has a lot of starting experience. 17 games for a very good Carolina Panthers defense. Keith Baxter and Tre Roberson are undrafted free agents with nice size and Mike Zimmer really likes football players with nice size. Roberson played quarterback at Illinois State but is a corner now. With the return of Newman and the addition of Alexander, Price, White, Baxter, and Roberson are probably on the wrong side of the numbers game. But you never know. There was a time, a few times actually, that Sherels was given less of a roster chance than any of those corners.

The Vikings top five corners.

Xavier Rhodes
Trae Waynes
Captain Munnerlyn
Mackensie Alexander
Terence Newman

This is the best top five that I've ever seen in Minnesota. It's a nice mix of young, promising talent and veteran leadership. It's a very good group that could be a great one.