5 early 2022 prospects for the Minnesota Vikings to watch
By Luke Parrish
Kaiir Elam – CB (Florida)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 193 pounds
2020 Stats:
- 39 tackles
- 2 INTs
- 11 pass breakups
The Vikings did not select a cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft in a shocking turn of events. There’s no way Mike Zimmer allows that to happen two years in a row, especially considering the cornerback room could look much different at the end of this season.
Patrick Peterson, Mackensie Alexander, and Mike Hughes are all set to hit the free-agent market next season. Peterson and Alexander signed one-year deals this offseason to help a rebounding defense while Minnesota just declined Hughes’ fifth-year option after his battle with injuries thus far in his career.
Kaiir Elam may wind up as the top cornerback in this class behind Derek Stingly Jr. when all is said and done. Elam brings size and length to the outside while playing with the demeanor and confidence you love from a defensive back.
His ball skills are off the charts for a player as young as Elam. With just 20 games under his belt at Florida, Elam has snagged four interceptions and come up with 15 pass breakups. He started for the Gators as a sophomore in 2020, he was a sticky cornerback in the SEC handling some of the top receivers in the nation.
Elam will probably develop into one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Not many players come to the league with his size, athleticism, and ball skills at the position. If everything clicks, he’s going to be a problem at the next level.