Minnesota Vikings: Five players whose stock is on the rise

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Aug 9, 2015; Canton, OH, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes (26) looks on during the 2015 Hall of Fame game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. Trae Waynes

Nobody’s stock was lower than Trae Waynes’ coming out of the preseason. In fact there were some Viking fans ready to give up on Waynes altogether.

Why give up on a first-round draft pick everyone knew was going to need work after a couple bad preseason games? I guess some people just don’t have any faith in Mike Zimmer.

Waynes saw only special teams snaps the first two games of the season but was pressed into service against San Diego when Xavier Rhodes went out with a scary looking injury.

There were a lot of sweaty palms out there when Waynes entered the game in the second quarter but Waynes quickly proved that he could hold up on the field.

It’s true that San Diego did not really challenge Waynes much in coverage, but they did throw at him a little and he showed that he can make tackles and cover his man.

Waynes even had a chance at an interception but just couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Is Trae Waynes going to have his struggles before it’s over? Of course he is. All young cornerbacks have their bad days.

But Waynes’ first taste of NFL action as a cornerback should have been enough to reassure fans that the young man can play and if you give Mike Zimmer enough time he can mold Waynes into a solid corner.

Next: Chad Greenway's pick-six

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