Incredibly popular NFL Draft selection for the Vikings could be the next great cornerback
The secondary is the biggest area of weakness for the Minnesota Vikings. They are set to have four of their top six players in the secondary to hit free agency with Harrison Smith on the verge of retirement. The first round is going to be a good spot for a cornerback or safety due to […]
The secondary is the biggest area of weakness for the Minnesota Vikings. They are set to have four of their top six players in the secondary to hit free agency with Harrison Smith on the verge of retirement.
The first round is going to be a good spot for a cornerback or safety due to the sheer talent in the class. There are a lot of different players the Vikings can target with unique skill sets.
The latest installment of our SKOL Search series focuses on a very popular name in NFL Mock Drafts for the Vikings in Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Benjamin Morrison
- Notre Dame
- Height: 6000
- Weight: 190
- Class: Third-Year Junior
- Recruiting info: 4-star recruit in 2022 class per 247 Sports
- Stats: 84 tackles (61 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions, 1 touchdown 2 forced fumbles, 18 passes defended
- Games watched: Texas A&M 2024, Stanford 2024, Purdue 2024
- Patience: Morrison looks incredibly comfortable in coverage, both man and zone. He stays very patient across the board, not panicking when receivers make moves.
- Physicality: He has plenty of oomph in his game. Morrison is more than willing to be aggressive in coverage with his hands. both through the route and at the line of scrimmage.
- Athleticism: Morrison is a very good athlete. Plays under control with consistency with great lateral quickness and smooth feet.
Weaknesses
- Closing Speed: Morrison is a good athlete, but his top gear just isn't what you need it to be. He's great when in the hip pocket, but struggles closing quickly.
- Big Play Hunter: While Morrison is patient in coverage, he gets a little too aggressive in zone coverage. That element allows him to get taken advantage of with double moves.
- Injury Concerns: One of the current unknowns with Morrison is the hip injury he suffered during his final year at Notre Dame. Being that hip fluidity is so important at cornerback, and having that kind of injury is concerning.
Overview
| Trait | Grade |
|---|---|
Man | 8.4/10 |
Zone | 8.7/10 |
Hips/Fluidity | 8.3/10 |
Recognition | 12.9/15 |
Quickness | 8.1/10 |
Run Support | 7.7/10 |
Speed | 8.1/10 |
Recovery | 8.0/10 |
Tackling | 4.1/5 |
Ball Skills | 8.8/10 |
Grade | 83.1 Second Round Grade |
Morrison is going to be a divisive prospect across the board. Some will love his length and patience in zone coverage while others will focus on his aggressiveness and lack of closing speed as major areas of concern.
He would sincerely fit the Vikings defense as it's currently constructed under Brian Flores. The ability to stay patient in zone coverage with the ability to play in man is something that will be impactful for the Vikings short and long-term. The biggest question is the hip injury. How much will it impact his draft stock will be an intriguing factor in his draft stock.
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