Despite being a rookie head coach, Mike Zimmer had the Minnesota Vikings playing some very competitive football throughout the year. The Vikes manufactured a running game from scratch after Adrian Peterson missed all but one game in 2014 with Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata combining for over 1,100 yards. Meanwhile, Minnesota's pass defense was one of the best in the league, ranking 7th overall (223.3 yards allowed per game).
But nothing was more impressive than the poise and talent rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater showed. The young passer finished the season strong, completing 72 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 105.5 over his last five games. To aid his development, Minnesota was expected to target his favorite target at Louisville, wide receiver DeVante Parker, in the NFL draft. However, after the Vikings traded for Mike Wallace, that plan may have changed.
Zimmer, who has a strong defensive background, could look at the other side of the ball with Minnesota's first-round pick. Specifically, Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes.
"...it will be hard for Minnesota to pass on a player who both profiles as a safe pick - the tape is there - and an explosive one who can create points on the defensive side of the ball," ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. wrote. "Especially when this draft is again chock full of pass-catching talent. The Vikings are in decent shape up front, but they lack both depth and size at cornerback, which is no fun in a divisions with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler on the schedule six times a year...Waynes isn't much of a reach here after a stellar combine and definitely hits a need."
On the surface, Waynes may not be the obvious pick. Minnesota's starting cornerbacks - Xavier Rhodes and Captain Munnerlyn - are both 26 years old or younger. But Waynes arguably has a higher ceiling than both of them and you can never have too much talent in the secondary in today's passing league.
The Vikings could easily wait until the second-round to grab another pass-catcher for its up-and-coming quarterback. And despite his mercurial nature, it's not as if Wallace didn't produce at all last season. He hauled in 67 passes for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns. No Vikings wide receiver had more than the recently released Greg Jennings' 59 catches for 742 yards and six scores. It's an upgrade anyway you look at it.
