The Minnesota Vikings selected safety Lewis Cine out of Georgia with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, hoping he could be a long-term answer in the secondary and become a regular contributor.
That didn't end up being the case, as Cine would struggle to stay healthy. He played in 10 games for the Vikings before being released, accumulating only one tackle during his time with the purple and gold.
Now, Minnesota finds themselves once again seeking a safety. Camryn Bynum left in free agency this offseason and 2025 could be the final season for veteran defensive back Harrison Smith before he decides to retire.
The Minnesota Vikings could fix their safety issue during the 2025 NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings only have four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it wouldn't be surprising if one of those picks ended up being a safety. That's why it is no surprise that USA Today's Nick Brinkerhoff has the team choosing a defensive back for them in the first round of his mock draft created by Google Gemini.
In the piece, Binkerhoff once again has the Vikings choosing a safety from Georgia, only this time it is Malaki Starks.
"Brian Flores would enjoy adding someone like Starks to his aggressive defense. Minnesota is able to snag the safety that fell down the board, shoring up the secondary and also positioning themselves for life after Harrison Smith."Nick Brinkerhoff
Starks is a six-foot-one, 197-pound defender who played in 43 games for Georgia, accumulating 197 combined tackles, 17 pass defenses, six interceptions, and six tackles for a loss. His speed and ball skills are excellent, making him an interesting option for Brian Flores' defensive unit in Minnesota.
Debating how AI can perform tasks typically done by humans is still a hotly debated topic, but the pick of Malaki Starks for the Vikings makes a lot of sense and would likely be met with acceptance among fans.
Gemini doesn't do anything too bold in this mock draft. The biggest surprises included in the piece are quarterback Shedeur Sanders going No. 3 overall to the Giants and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan selected by the Panthers at No. 8. Both picks would be interesting, but make sense for a team looking for help in those areas.
For the Minnesota Vikings, picking a high-potential safety like Malaki Starks out of Georgia is a scenario that many fans can likely get behind, especially if he can pan out in a way that Lewis Cine couldn't.