Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's NFL Draft strategy could bring another tall, athletic cornerback to the Vikings

The first wave of free agency saw the Vikings fortify the cornerback position with three players: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Tavierre Thomas. The position isn't finished yet, as the Vikings could still use some higher-end talent. Luckily for the Vikings, this NFL Draft class has a plethora of cornerbacks for the Vikings to […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Oct 19, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson (9) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Darien Porter (10) battle for a pass at Jack Trice Stadium.
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The first wave of free agency saw the Vikings fortify the cornerback position with three players: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Tavierre Thomas. The position isn't finished yet, as the Vikings could still use some higher-end talent.

Luckily for the Vikings, this NFL Draft class has a plethora of cornerbacks for the Vikings to prioritize. The top 100 is filled with quite a few intriguing prospects with varied skillsets.

The latest installment of our SKOL Search series focuses on a very popular name in NFL Mock Drafts for the Vikings in Iowa State CB Darien Porter.

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Darien Porter 

  • Iowa State
  • Height: 6027
  • Weight: 195
  • Class: Sixth-Year Senior
  • Recruiting info: 4-star recruit in 2021 class per 247 Sports
  • Stats: 244 tackles (166 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 11 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
  • Games watched: Iowa 2024, UCF 2024, Kansas State 2024

Strengths

  • Ball Skills: Porter was a wide receiver for multiple years at Iowa State, but didn't get on the field. He transitioned to cornerback before the 2022 season but hte ball skills remained 
  • Athleticism: Porter tested off the charts, running a 4.3 40-yard dash nad jumping a 36.5" vertical with a 10'-11 broad jump. He has multiple instances of chasing ball carriers down the field.
  • Awareness: Despite only playing the position for three seasons, Porter looks comfortable moving around on the back end. He knows what he's doing and understands where to be and how to get there.
  • Special Teams: Porter is one of the better punt gunners in the country and has four career blocked punts.

Weaknesses

  • Stiffness: While Porter has good awareness and moves well with his limited experience, he isn't the most fluid athlete laterally. Shows some stiffness in his hips, which might limit what defenses he can play in.
  • Man Coverage: His lack of experience overall is a frustrating one for evaluators, especially when it comes to man coverage. There aren't many good reps to evaluate and it's important, especially since he is somewhat stiff.
  • Age: The age of a player is something that will be important for some people. It's especially important here, as Porter, 24, is still somewhat raw and inexperienced at cornerback.

Overview

TraitGrade

Man

7.7/10

Zone

7.9/10

Hips/Fluidity

7.2/10

Recognition

11.2/15

Quickness

8.4/10

Run Support

7.8/10

Speed

8.9/10

Recovery

8.0/10

Tackling

4.0/5

Ball Skills

8.1/10

Grade

79.2 Third Round Grade

Porter is a fascinating prospect in the NFL Draft. He does have a really good athletic profile with good size and awareness, but only having played three seasons at cornerback at the age of 24 is concerning for teams hoping to have a long-term starter at the position.

Would the Vikings be interested? They have taken older prospects before, including at cornerback with both Mekhi Blackmon and Khyree Jackson. At the right draft pick, age doesn't seem to be a factor anymore. He could definitely be in play for the Vikings at a certain point.

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