Cornerback Starters: Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes
There were a lot of trade rumors flying around about Rhodes and Waynes during the early months of the offseason, but as the Vikings return to camp, the duo will man the starting cornerback position for the third straight season.
This is a development the Vikings are likely thankful for considering the question marks that surround the rest of the depth chart, but both corners also have their own questions heading into 2019.
For Rhodes, the biggest question is whether he can return to his All-Pro form from 2017. During that year, Rhodes was targeted 84 times by opposing quarterbacks (19th in the NFL), but he only allowed 46 receptions according to Pro Football Focus.
The Florida State alum was also great in limiting big plays as he allowed just two touchdowns and 1.02 yards per coverage snap (86th among corners with at least 20 percent coverage snaps).
Those numbers didn’t exactly rise in 2018, but the biggest issue was keeping Rhodes on the field. With him bowing out of games early with what looked to be potential season-ending injuries, he went on to post modest numbers as he allowed 45 receptions on 69 targets to go with 1.10 yards per coverage snap.
The key with Rhodes will be his health this season and it didn’t look like he had it at any time last year. If the Vikings can get the old Rhodes back in 2019, it will be a huge boost to this defense.
On the other side, Waynes was also in and out of the lineup for the Vikings last season but performed decently when he was on the field. The fourth-year corner gave up the fewest number of receptions since becoming a starter in 2016 (36), but he also allowed the highest passer rating (95.4) of his career.
With Waynes set to become a free agent after the 2019 season, he’ll be looking for a strong performance to get paid in Minnesota or elsewhere. Much like Rhodes, a strong season by Waynes could go a long way in the Vikings’ defense getting their swagger back from a couple of years ago.