Minnesota Vikings have a dire need at cornerback and there are some fascinating prospects
Cornerback is the next position to get a major focus from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
It’s too early to declare anyone a must-watch prospect in the NFL Draft for the Minnesota Vikings, but it’s always good to keep an eye on what’s going on at the college level.
One of the most important positions for the Vikings to focus on is cornerback. They don’t have young prospects to develop outside of Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn. The selections of Mekhi Blackmon and Khyree Jackson the last two years didn’t work out for unfortunate reasons, but the Vikings have been trying to find talent.
After spending the last two offseasons prioritizing the trenches, cornerback is the likely focus of this offseason, and the top of the NFL Draft is the spot where the Vikings make it happen. The first week of college football had some really impressive performances.
Vikings NFL Draft prospects to watch
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The biggest game Saturday night was the battle of Death Valley between LSU and Clemson. While the LSU Tigers’ defensive line stole the show, Delane was tremendous on the outside.
Per Pro Football Focus, Delane allowed just one reception on eight targets for 21 yards, and that one had 24 yards after catch, meaning he was credited for allowing a bubble screen. He also intercepted a pass and batted down two others. What really stood out was how patient Delane was in man coverage. He let the receiver make the first move and didn’t overcommit to any singular movement. Those traits will bode really well in Brian Flores’ defense.
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Last year, Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun looked like he could be a top-64 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he struggled down the stretch. He returned to Columbus to improve his draft stock and potentially win another national championship.
There are a lot of things to like about Igbinosun, but one element that stood out against the Texas Longhorns was his willingness and effectiveness in the run game.
Vikings fans might recognize this kind of effort, as Antoine Winfield would make plays like this back in the day. He was also solid in coverage against the Longhorns, helping hold them to 38 yards in the first three quarters. There is room to grow in coverage, but he’s got a good skill set to work with.
Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State
Flores’ defense with the Vikings asks its cornerbacks to be quick in closing on the football. Often, the cornerbacks are in zone coverage and need to click-and-close on the ball. Mathews did a good job against Texas in that area.
The way he moves and attacks the football will translate 1:1 in Flores’ defense, and he’s got plenty of size, listed at 5-11 and 190 pounds. While he did allow the one touchdown in the game, Mathews notched an interception and the PBU from the above clip. It was an impressive performance from the true junior.
Others to watch
- Lemondre Joe, CB, Colorado State
- Emon Allen, CB, Sam Houston State
- Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
- Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
- A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State
- Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
- Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama
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