Vikings draft Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr. after more trades

Updated Apr. 29, 2022 8:30 p.m. ET

Associated Press

After two more trades, the busy Minnesota Vikings took Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. with the 42nd overall pick in the NFL draft Friday night.

Minnesota started the

The Vikings also received pick No. 122 from Indianapolis.

Booth, who entered the draft after his junior season, had 37 tackles and three interceptions last season. He's considered a competitive cornerback who can play press or zone coverage.

Minnesota re-signed veteran Patrick Peterson and signed Chandon Sullivan in free agency but didn't have much experience behind them at cornerback. It's the second addition to the secondary after adding Georgia safety Lewis Cine at the end of the first round.

Upgrading the secondary might be a necessity after trades with two NFC North rivals.

The Vikings traded back from No. 12 to 32 in the first round, sending the 12th pick to Detroit, who selected receiver Jameson Williams. After Friday's trade with Green Bay, the Packers added North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson, giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers a speedy, 6-foot-4 target.

Minnesota had two more Friday picks, No. 59 and 66.

Cine arrived at Vikings headquarters Friday to visit with team officials and tour the facility. The versatile safety from Georgia spoke glowingly about the satisfying opportunities his position provides to deliver punishing hits to the opposition.

“I can be all-out physical and just do me on the football field and be OK about it. When you think about it, football is a violent game. A lot of things you do in football, you can’t do in the outside world. You’ll get arrested,” Cine said.

He wanted to make clear, though, that he's not a reckless or dirty player.

“I want to play the game safe, let me say that for sure, because now at this level the last thing I want to happen is be fined. The NFL fines people a pretty penny,” Cine said. “So I want to be in the game, one. I want to not get fined, two, and I want to be dependable to my team, three.”

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