TODAY'S POSITION: CORNERBACKS
Importance (1-to-10 scale): 7
On the roster
Minnesota features the best depth at the position that it's had in a long time. And yet, the Vikings still might be looking for more help at cornerback. The competition in training camp should be good even before any possible additions. Longtime veteran -- and coach Mike Zimmer disciple -- Terence Newman joined the Vikings as a free agent to go with a group that enjoyed health and improvement last year under Zimmer and Minnesota defensive backs coach Jerry Gray.
Xavier Rhodes, the 2013 first-round pick, really took a step forward in his development and appears as though he could be a legitimate shutdown cornerback on one side for the Vikings. Rhodes, 24, is tall, plays aggressively but can also turn and run with top receivers. He gives Minnesota a strong starting point at the position.
Captain Munnerlyn, 27, didn't meet expectations in his first season with the Vikings. But Munnerlyn vowed to be better in his second year and has the track record as a proven player in the NFL. Munnerlyn was the starter in the base defense, but will likely stick to just the inside slot position in 2015.
If Munnerlyn isn't on the outside, someone else will be the starter in the base. Perhaps it's a new addition, either a draft pick or Newman. Newman, 36, played for Zimmer in Dallas and in Cincinnati and has the savvy and instincts to get by, even if he's slowed in recent seasons.
Josh Robinson had the outside last year when Minnesota went into its nickel defense, with Munnerlyn sliding inside. Robinson, 24, bounced back from a poor second season and led all Vikings cornerbacks with three interceptions. He could possibly start or provide more depth if Minnesota finds another starter.
Marcus Sherels has made the team the past few years because of his work as a punt returner, but he's held up when asked to play on defense. Shaun Prater has shown glimpses and Jabari Price had a strong rookie season as a seventh-round draft pick last year. Price isn't big, but he's competitive.
Last five cornerbacks drafted
Philosophy at the position
Adding more depth and more talent at the position is always an important priority for Minnesota, which sees some of the top passing games in the NFL each week as part of the NFC North. Health was a big factor last year for the Vikings, and the secondary improved under Zimmer. Rhodes has the potential to be a top-flight cornerback, but adding another young talent to pair with Rhodes is an attractive proposition.
Zimmer is known for his work with defensive backs and he has to be intrigued by the possibility of adding another elite playmaker to the group.
Munnerlyn and Newman are reliable veterans. Robinson has speed but is smaller in stature. If a top talent was added to push each of them down the depth chart, Minnesota could boast one of the league's top sets of cornerbacks not long after struggling to fill the position for years. The Vikings, of anyone, should know the importance of having plenty of cornerback depth.
Day 1 name to remember (Round 1)
Trae Waynes, redshirt junior, Michigan State (6-foot, 186 pounds): It's not often a team drafting at No. 11, as Minnesota is, will have a chance to pick up the draft's top cornerback. But the Vikings might be in that rare position if analysts are right and Waynes is on the board at No. 11. The thought of pairing Waynes with Rhodes has to make Zimmer and Gray smile.
Waynes started 27 games the past two seasons for Michigan State and had six interceptions with 13 pass breakups. He also has all of the athletic attributes the NFL looks for in cornerbacks. He's big enough at 6-foot and 31-inch arms. He could probably add weight and doesn't have great strength. Waynes, however, wowed at the combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds.
Waynes is similar to Rhodes in many ways. He's a press cornerback who might have to learn to let receivers go in the NFL. But he can play a variety of systems and has the skills to play man-to-man and hold his own against big receivers.
Day 2 name to remember (Rounds 2-3)
Byron Jones, redshirt senior, Connecticut (6-1, 199): Another tall, athlete cornerback in a draft full of options in the mid-first to third-round range. Jones has the buzz heading into the draft, and many wonder if he could be a first-round pick. Is he truly "rising" or are draft analysts being misled in the week before the draft. More likely, people are just catching on to what NFL teams have known.
Jones was a combine star, easily with the best vertical jump and broad jump numbers of any cornerback. He was also among the top of his class of cornerbacks in the 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. Jones is considered to be a smart and instinctive player, but is believed to be a better fit in a zone scheme.
Day 3 name to remember (Rounds 4-7)
Josh Shaw, redshirt senior, Southern California (6-0, 201): Shaw has the prototypical size and talent. Off-field questions largely lead him to being a third-day pick. Shaw had the highly publicized incident in which he blamed injuries on saving his nephew from drowning. It was later revealed Shaw injured his ankles while jumping from a balcony to avoid police. A team captain, Shaw ended up missing all but three games last year because of the issues.
On the field, Shaw has played cornerback and safety. He can play press but isn't considered to have great speed. His future could be as a zone cornerback or possibly at safety. Minnesota has done its due diligence, meeting with Shaw during the pre-draft process.
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