Assessing Trae Waynes’ value ahead of free agency

The Minnesota Vikings face a number of big decisions regarding their secondary this offseason, which includes impending free agent Trae Waynes.

It promises to be a pivotal few weeks for the Minnesota Vikings with plenty of significant decisions coming up to secure the long and short term future of the franchise.

A number of key figures are either hitting free agency or are candidates for release given Minnesota’s expected salary cap concerns this offseason. This was eased somewhat by defensive end Everson Griffen reportedly voiding his deal on Thursday, but more will need to be done.

The Vikings are sure to focus a considerable amount of time on fixing their secondary issues during the next few months. Standout safety Anthony Harris is set for a big payday either in Minnesota or elsewhere after an exceptional season and he is priority number one.

Xavier Rhodes’ concerning play and big 2020 cap hit likely means he will not be around by the time OTAs come along and another former first-round pick’s future is also up in the air.

Cornerback Trae Waynes is on the lookout for a new deal after a tenure littered with inconsistencies during his time in Minnesota. He was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and earned just over $9 million last season.

The pressure was taken off Waynes during the initial stages of his career thanks to the standout play of Rhodes. This has not been the case over the last two years, however, where more was expected from the Michigan State product thanks to Rhodes’ spectacular downturn in fortune.

Although he has shown glimpses of promise, there is plenty of film to suggest that Waynes does not deserve a lucrative contract from the Vikings. Minnesota’s problems defending wide receivers on the outside was glaring last season and one of the prominent reasons behind their eventual demise.

There was a big chance for Waynes to step up and become the Vikings’ next great shutdown cornerback last year. One would think that opportunity has passed him by following a campaign where his flaws were exposed regularly.

Waynes managed just one interception to go alongside 56 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and eight pass deflections in 2019. This is the sort of mediocre play we have come to expect from the corner during his time with the organization.

With so many pressing priorities elsewhere, Minnesota would be hard-pressed to offer Waynes something like the $8.4 million annual salary on a three-year, $25.2 million deal his predicted market value is set to command.

One thing Waynes does have going for him is his age. He is still just 27-years-old, heading into the prime of his career and a fresh start in a different scheme may invigorate the cornerback to reach his potential.

If Rhodes is released as expected and with Waynes and Mackensie Alexander both hitting free agency, the Vikings could be without three of their most prominent cornerbacks from last season in 2020. Only the injury-prone Mike Hughes, another former first-round pick, and Holton Hill would remain and that is a serious problem.

Blending in so many new faces into the defense will take time and Minnesota might decide to keep either Alexander or Waynes if the price is right.

The Vikings will not overpay for a player that has flattered to deceive during the majority of his career. Keeping either Waynes or Alexander on the roster would ensure some form of continuity, but it is clear that Minnesota’s defense is probably going to have a very different look to it by the time competitive action gets underway next season.

This might cause the Vikings to cut their losses with Waynes and add his name to their list of recent first-round picks that have not lived up to the hype.