Cody Whitehair could be high on the Minnesota Vikings’ list of draft targets if recent reports are any indication.
Normally it’s not a huge deal when a team is reported to have met with a draft prospect, since teams tend to meet with a lot of draft prospects, but when a team keeps meeting with the same player…well, it’s natural to assume the team has special interest in that player.
One player who appears to have piqued the interest of Rick Spielman and the Vikings is Kansas State OG Cody Whitehair.
#Vikings digging on Whitehair, who said he met with Tony Sparano twice at Senior Bowl and again here at combine.
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) February 24, 2016
There’s no doubt the Vikings have a need to acquire interior linemen after the way things went last year. But don’t get too excited about the prospect of Cody Whitehair coming in and solving the Vikings’ problems at left guard.
For one thing, scouts and experts aren’t even entirely sure Cody Whitehair projects as a guard. A couple things came out about Whitehair Friday at the combine:
16 reps of 225lbs for Cody Whitehair. Shorter armed player (32 3/8) plays very strong on film. Probably a center for most teams.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 25, 2016
It wasn’t all bad news for Whitehair however. Though he disappointed in the bench press, he did well in drills that test movement.
Cody Whitehair with a great 7.32 3-cone time. Ronnie Stanley with a disappointing 8.03 at the NFL Combine - https://t.co/GbFsH2K8ke
— Walter Cherepinsky (@walterfootball) February 27, 2016
Next: Josh Doctson shines at combine
This appears to be a case of a combine performance bearing out scouting reports. Cody Whitehair will have to get stronger, but he moves well. Nothing he can do about the length of his arms.
I have no idea where Whitehair falls on the Mike Zimmer Offensive Line Demeanor Index. I hope he’s not excessively cerebral.