6 biggest Minnesota Vikings needs for the 2020 NFL Draft

Cornerback

This has emerged as the clear top need for the Vikings as they enter the 2020 offseason. Not only has this been a problem area all year long, but there are starters and contributors who become will free agents at season’s end.

The usually stout Minnesota secondary became very porous in 2019. Xavier Rhodes took the biggest step back as the once shutdown corner suddenly couldn’t cover even rookie receivers. He was beaten badly week in and week out and he also struggled making tackles.

Rhodes was a true liability and teams began to target him. His frustration boiled over at times and he became not just a liability, but also a distraction. It seems very unlikely that the Vikings will bring him back next season.

Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander have played much better than Rhodes, but both are entering free agency in 2020 and both will probably demand pretty nice paydays on the open market.

With Minnesota still not having a lot of space to work with under the cap, it is highly unlikely the team can bring them both Alexander and Waynes back for next season. Hopefully, the Vikings can at least sign one of these guys to an extension.

So potentially, Minnesota’s starting corners heading into the 2020 season will be Mike Hughes and Holton Hill. Kris Boyd would then be No. 3 on the depth chart with Mark Fields the primary backup.

Hughes flashed potential this season, but he still needs work. Hill is okay, but he shouldn’t be a starter and Boyd came a long way this year, but he still probably needs at least one more season of grooming before seeing a steady role in the Vikings’ secondary on game day.

This is an area Minnesota will likely address with their first-round pick in 2020. There should be plenty of promising corners available in the mid-20s when the Vikings make their first selection. Some names to keep an eye on include Trevon Diggs, Paulson Adebo, C.J. Henderson, and Kristian Fulton. The Vikings could also draft a corner later in the draft as well, as their need is that dire.