Vikings NFL Draft Preview: One cornerback prospect target in each round Minnesota could target
The NFL Draft is just over three weeks away, and how the Minnesota Vikings are going to proceed will be fascinating to watch play out. There are a multitude of needs they have, and how they prioritize them is going to be unknown. One position that is nearly a guarantee they will take is cornerback. […]
The NFL Draft is just over three weeks away, and how the Minnesota Vikings are going to proceed will be fascinating to watch play out.
There are a multitude of needs they have, and how they prioritize them is going to be unknown. One position that is nearly a guarantee they will take is cornerback. Even with the signing of James Pierre, they only have three cornerbacks on the roster and need depth behind Byron Murphy Jr.
Who could be a target for the Vikings? Here is one cornerback they could look at in each round.
First round: Avieon Terrell, Clemson Tigers
This is a really good cornerback class, and I believe Terrell is the best of them all. He might be a little smaller at 5-11 and 186 pounds, but he plays much bigger than his profile. Terrell attacks the football with controlled aggression in all phases of the game and has excellent ball skills to pair with it. Terell also isn’t afraid to get involved in the running game, which is very important in Brian Flores’ defense. He won’t be for everyone, but Terrell would be a great fit in Minnesota.
Second round: Chris Johnson, San Diego State Aztecs
One of the things that Flores loves with his cornerbacks is experience. The only two cornerbacks the Vikings have drafted with Flores as the defensive coordinator have been Mekhi Blackmon and Khyree Jackson. While Johnson is only going to be 22 years old as a rookie, he’s got plenty of experience with over 1,700 snaps in college. He doesn’t have the most fluid hips to thrive in man coverage, but he excels in zone and has good ball skills. He could sneak into the first round, but Johnson would be a great second round pick.
Third round: Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Once you get to the end of day two, the talent pool isn’t dwindling. There is still a lot of talent on the board. Abney could end up going in the top-40, but he isn’t the biggest guy. One thing he’s good at is attacking breaking routes over the middle of the field. Those ball skills will translate anywhere in any defense.
Fourth round: Devin Moore, Florida Gators
The Vikings don’t have a ton of size in the cornerback room. Adding a player like Moore could end up being a nice addition. He’s been a stalwart player for the Gators throughout his career, including being balanced as both a run defender and coverman. The injuries are going to be tough for some teams to get over, but once you get into day three, injury concerns wane.
Fifth round: Tacario Davis, Washington Huskies
Davis is a cornerback who was at one point possibly going in the first round after a good season with the Arizona Wildcats in 2023. Over the following two years, he didn’t live up to that, including dealing with injuries this past season with the Washington Huskies. What Davis does have is a fascinating combination of size at 6-4 and athleticism. That isn’t something that you see very often, and is worth a pick on day three.
Sixth round: Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
Small school players can often get overlooked, and Demmings could end up being one of them. His tape showcases a player who can play in the NFL on the outside. Demmings allowed just 18 receptions for 246 yards and one touchdown, while intercepting four passes and batting down six others. His athletic profile is fantastic, with a 4.41 40-yard dash, 42″ vertical jump, and 11′ broad jump. Even if he doesn’t play well at cornerback, Demmings will be a good asset on special teams.
Seventh round: Ahmari Harvey, Georgia Tech
Listen, I think Harvey should be a third-round pick, but the consensus is much further down on him. What Harvey has is exactly what I like in a cornerback. He has all the dog in the world, aggressively attacking the ball, wide receivers, and everything in between. Last year, I was way too high on Quincy Riley and he panned out. This year, it’s Harvey.
Minnesota Vikings News
Vikings 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Trade down in first round gives Brian Flores multiple weapons on defense
A trade down is likely for the Vikings to add more depth to the roster.
NFL Draft
2-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Ty Simpson falls out of first round, Dallas Cowboys get secondary help, and a big wide receiver run
The NFL Draft is just 25 days away.
