5 Minnesota Vikings players who could be replaced in the 2022 NFL Draft

Harrison Hand – CB

Patrick Peterson’s return on a one-year deal was extremely welcome. The Minnesota Vikings are once again searching for depth at the cornerback position and the All-Pro coming back should help stabilize things in the short-term as head coach Kevin O’Connell aims to make a splash in 2022.

Peterson’s re-signing should not prevent the Vikings from targeting a cornerback early in the draft process. Many prospects at the position have caught the eye both in their final college seasons and during the evaluation process, so this is something to keep a close eye on over the first two days.

If this potential scenario comes to fruition, then Harrison Hand’s hopes of earning a more significant spot on the rotation would be dealt a blow. The third-year-pro appeared in just two defensive snaps in 2021 and even though he was a core special teams contributor, the Temple product is probably aiming for more this time around.

This does seem ambitious considering the lack of confidence in the player displayed by the previous regime. But there could be a situation where Hand does enough to convince Ed Donatell and other coaches he’s worth a shot.

Hand will be waiting nervously to see which direction Minnesota goes. Something that could help or significantly hinder his chances next season.