The Minnesota Vikings added three rookie safeties to the mix through the 2020 NFL Draft and undrafted free agent signing period. Which of the young defensive backs will be on the roster for the long term?
Much of the talk around the Vikings this summer has been about the future of the safety position for the Minnesota Vikings. Anthony Harris broke out in a major way in 2019 but has yet to sign a long-term contract to stay in purple. His counterpart, Harrison Smith, will turn 32 at the end of the upcoming season.
With Smith nearing the end of his remarkable career for the Vikings and Harris not under contract beyond 2020, the Vikings have serious questions about the future. The only backup safeties currently on the roster are rookies who will compete for playing time right off the bat.
With quality competition among the young additions, it will be fun to see who emerges as the backup safety and special teams ace for the Vikings. Replacing Jayron Kearse as a versatile defender and special teamer will not be easy, but it is definitely doable.
Sixth-round pick Josh Metellus will be joined by Brian Cole, a seventh-round selection, and Myles Dorn, an undrafted free agent. If the rumors of Harrison Hand moving to safety are true, that adds even more competition to the mix.
Sticking with the first three guys above, who has the best chance to have a future in Minnesota’s secondary?
Josh Metellus
Josh Metellus has the leg up as the team enters training camp by virtue of being the first player selected out of the bunch. The Vikings spent a sixth-round pick on the safety out of Michigan with the hope that he can develop into a contributor.
At Michigan, Metellus thrived as an in-the-box defender who could fly to the ball and deliver a stunning blow to the ball-carrier. He excels at initiating contact and driving through the ball to finish the play. He also has experience as a slot defender with plenty of success in pass coverage.
He finished his time collegiate career on a high note, setting career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss, and pass deflections. Metellus broke up 14 passes and intercepted five in his four-year career while adding 186 tackles. He can be a do-it-all type of safety once he adjusts to the NFL.
His production increased every year and he showed flashes at a variety of spots for the Wolverines. His ability to read and react, along with his instincts in coverage, makes him a fun project moving forward.
Josh Metellus is a name to keep an eye on as the Vikings hit training camp. He will likely get some reps against the first-team offense at times just to see how different players look in certain situations. If he balls out, Metellus could find playing time quite early in his career.
Brian Cole
Brian Cole brings an impressive amount of energy between the white lines. He is not even close to being fully developed as a defensive back but has shown plenty of strides along the way. He originally committed to Michigan as a wide receiver before transferring to Mississippi State. At Mississippi State, Cole converted to safety for two seasons.
His first year as a safety was underwhelming as he only appeared in five games, but he recorded an interception in limited playing time. In 2019, Cole became a starter and made an enormous impact for the Bulldogs. He finished with 67 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and an interception.
With plenty of size at 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, Cole thrives near the line and is a great blitzer when coming from the safety spot. His closing speed is the thing you will notice most when turning on his film. His raw talent at safety gives a sign of hope that he can develop into a more consistent defender, but the flashes are exciting.
He is best when attacking downhill and in the box. He utilizes great speed when breaking down to tackle and is not afraid to get a little dirty. Cole’s athletic ability and ball skills will keep his name floating throughout camp at the very least.
Myles Dorn
Myles Dorn, like Brian Cole, brings a lot of size to the defensive backfield. Dorn is listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and has tree limbs for arms. He strikes me as a clone of Jayron Kearse, who played a huge role for the Vikings in his brief career with the team.
Dorn uses his length to break up passes and reach for ball-carriers in space. He finished his senior season with 83 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass deflections, all of which were career highs. In each of his final three seasons, Dorn recorded two interceptions and at least 2.5 tackles for loss for the Tar Heels.
The main concern with Dorn is that he is not the same level of athlete as the other two guys that are competing for the backup safety spot. He lacks the speed to close in space and is a bit stiff in the hips, making for some challenges in the run game. However, Dorn is solid in pass coverage and does a good job of running with receivers and keeping his eyes on the ball.
If the Vikings really want to replicate the production of Jayron Kearse and add length back into the secondary, Dorn is the best candidate.
Who will stand out?
Obviously, it is still very early in the process and there is no way to tell who will stand out once the preseason arrives. All three players bring something new to the table and can make contributions in different areas.
Josh Metellus will probably have the best opportunity thanks to his ability to slide to the slot as a coverage man when needed. But Brian Cole and Myles Dorn offer size and length that can help in covering tight ends and stopping the run.
With only two years of experience underneath him and a killer mentality at safety, Brian Cole is the most intriguing player in this conversation. If I had to bet the farm on one of these players sticking for the next few years, I am sticking with Cole.
He plays with a passion and brings immense energy to the field, which will come in handy on special teams. He flies to the ball and lowers the shoulder to hit the target and has a natural ability to play the ball.
Brian Cole can be a chess piece and situational blitzer if the Vikings really want to use his skill set. But stashing him for the future and letting him learn from the best safety duo in the NFL will set him up for plenty of future success.