5 prospects the Vikings could trade up for in the 2020 NFL Draft

Jeffrey Okudah – CB (Ohio State)

Cornerback is easily the Vikings’ biggest need as they head into the 2020 offseason. They could lose both Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes in free agency and potentially also cut Xavier Rhodes.

That would leave Minnesota with an injury-prone starter in Mike Hughes, who still has more questions than answers about his play, and Holton Hill as their starters. That isn’t good. The Vikings will need to draft multiple cornerbacks in this year’s draft or they could look to just go up and get the best one.

Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State is the best corner in this draft and he is easily worth a top five pick. He’s probably one of the best corner prospects to come out since Jalen Ramsey and that is truly high praise.

He’s got the size Mike Zimmer likes at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. The strength of Okudah’s game is his man coverage. He sticks on his man like they are duct-taped together, rarely allowing even a sliver of separation.

He also has a knack for breaking on the ball at the right time, often coming up with a pass breakup or even better, an interception. Okudah is a more than willing tackler who isn’t afraid to come up and lay a big hit on a ball carrier.

He has the tools to start right away as a rookie and he could be the best corner on Minnesota’s roster the moment he signs his contract.

To land Okudah, the Vikings would have to get potentially all the way up to the second overall pick as he’s currently mocked by many to the Lions at pick No. 3. That would cost Minnesota a bounty almost as steep as moving up to get Joe Burrow and that price is just too high.

If for some reason, Okudah slipped down the board a bit, the cost would certainly decrease and the Vikings could seriously begin to decide whether or not to pay the hefty price to move up and get him.