Detroit Lions top NFC North cornerback power rankings
By Ash Thompson
The Minnesota Vikings cornerback group
Xavier Rhodes is one of the best corners in the NFL. He does not put up spectacular interception numbers, but that has been because the Vikings have significantly less dangerous places to go with the ball in the passing game. Teams dipped their toes in the water in 2016, and Rhodes picked off five balls. He had also had double-digit passes defended in every season of his career.
He is also a penalty machine, averaging ten penalties per season over his career. That is part of the reason he dropped to number 15 in PFF’s corner rankings. He is a legitimate number one corner, but not the best in the division.
Trae Waynes started 16 games for the first time in his career in 2017. The continued career of Terrance Newman has been propped up by draft disappointments like Waynes, who have taken a great deal of time to develop in Minnesota. Waynes looked like a legitimate NFL player last year but he also racked up 65 tackles as a corner. That is never a good sign. Waynes has been a below average starter buoyed by an exceptional defensive cast around him.
Mike Hughes was a first-round pick in 2018. He has all of the tools to be a very good player, but as with the avalanche of rookies in Green Bay, it is optimistic to think he will be of much value to the Vikings in 2018.
To insulate themselves from needing a rookie to log meaningful snaps, the Vikings retained Terrence Newman. Newman is long past his time as a legitimate NFL starter, but he is a veteran presence that can fill in without massive dropoff from Waynes or a rookie.
Mackensie Alexander has been a crushing disappointment for the Vikings. He has fulfilled none of the promise that went with his 2016 second-round draft pick status.
The Vikings group is very top heavy. But it is much better than the Packers or Bears corner groups. There is a lot of potential to move up the list as well.