Vikings Draft Picks: Trae Waynes is widely regarded as the top corner in 2015 class

The 2015 draft class is stocked at the cornerback position, and it says something about Trae Waynes that he was almost unanimously ranked at the top of it. I'm sure the Vikings were tempted to reunite DeVante Parker with former college teammate Teddy Bridgewater, but the Vikings desperately need some help in the secondary. Considering the Bears selection of  Kevin White a few picks prior, this pick makes sense for Minnesota.  The Bears now have two big targets in Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White, and we know how dangerous the aerial attacks in Detroit and Green Bay are. Minnesota used a first-round pick in 2013 on Xavier Rhodes, who is developing into a nice player on the right side of their secondary. Waynes will compete with Captain Munnerlyn, Josh Robinson, and offseason acquisition Terence Newman for the spot next to Rhodes.

In terms of the player himself, Waynes is an ideal fit for Mike Zimmer's scheme. His length and speed (4.31 40 yard dash) give him the confidence to press receivers at the line of scrimmage. He was penalized nine times in the last season and will need to use his hands less in coverage at the next level. He'll also need to improve his ability and willingness to tackle. There's no doubt that he has the ability to develop into a well-rounded corner, it's probably more of a mentality with him. He threw his body at running backs and receivers too often instead of being decisive and attacking in the run game.

Overall, I like this pick for a team that exceeded low expectations in Zimmer's first season. The only proven cornerback in the secondary is Xavier Rhodes.  Devante Parker may have  been the best player available, but Minnesota wisely chose to address a glaring need in their secondary.