Lesser needs the Vikings could address with the 14th pick

Cornerback

No Minnesota Vikings fan would be surprised to see the team grab a first-round cornerback, as head coach Mike Zimmer can never seem to have enough. It would be a little shocking though since the team invested two early picks on the position last year and appear to have found a couple of studs in Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler.

While those two had their ups and downs as rookies, the experience they gained this past season will be huge, and they’ll both be in line to start next season. The depth behind them is also a little better than it first seems. It’s unclear at this point if Mike Hughes will be healthy enough to play. If he is, he can be the nickel back and work the slot. Harrison Hand flashed at times as a rookie and he should be in line for more playing time this season. Kris Boyd also returns and he’s had some positive tape the last couple of seasons.

Basically what it comes down to is the team does have enough on the cornerback depth chart to not take a corner, but if the right one is available at pick 14, they could pull the trigger. Adding a player like Patrick Surtain II or Caleb Farley would make sense. Hughes could opt to retire, as he’s suffered two serious neck injuries and that would be a huge blow to the team’s depth. Getting Farley or Surtain would be a huge boost to the talent at this position, and while there could once again be growing pains, the long term benefit of having one of those two with Gladney and Dantzler would be huge.