3 biggest needs for the Vikings after the 2021 NFL Draft
By Nik Edlund
Safety
The Vikings have largely ignored the safety position in recent drafts and in free agency. They didn’t really have to do anything with the position for many years due to having stalwart Harrison Smith on one side and Anthony Harris on the other.
But this year, they bucked that trend when Harris left and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings went out and signed Xavier Woods and then they used a fourth-round pick on versatile Cameron Bynum out of California.
Minnesota also has Josh Metellus returning this season after playing mostly on special teams as a rookie, and last year’s undrafted free agent, Myles Dorn, will compete for a spot after returning from a season-ending injury.
The Vikings should be okay this year unless they get hit hard with injuries. But safety will likely be a big need as the 2022 draft approaches.
Smith isn’t getting any younger and he’s currently scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. Woods was signed to just a one-year deal, so Minnesota could potentially lose both of their starting safeties at the end of the 2021 season.
Bynum will need to have a huge rookie year to show he’s ready to start next in 2022. But like the cornerbacks, he may not get the reps needed to level up in time.
Safety could definitely become the Vikings’ biggest hole and the area they choose to address with their first-round pick in 2022, unless they decide to bring back Smith to finish his career where it began.