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The Minnesota Vikings clearly have high expectations for cornerback Trae Waynes, with their draft investment in him this year (11th overall) and the assertion from defensive coordinator George Edwards that they’ve “thrown a lot at” the Michigan State product during offseason work.
Waynes is being given an opportunity to step into a big role right away, as he was seen playing outside as well as in the slot during offseason work. There is some competition for him as the Vikings have continued to add depth at cornerback, most notably veteran Terence Newman this offseason, but ultimately Waynes should be starting opposite Xavier Rhodes in short order.
I compared Waynes to Seattle Seahawks‘ cornerback Richard Sherman prior to the draft. While that is obviously a lofty comparison for a rookie that has yet to play a meaningful snap, I see similar tools and strengths that Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer and his defensive staff may see as well.
Training camp will be an opportunity for Waynes to translate his work during OTAs into padded practices, and potential one-on-one matchups against Vikings’ wide receivers Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson stand out as something that will be must-watch. Putting Waynes in situations where he is on an island in man coverage will surely be something the defensive coaches wants to see, even in a relatively casual setting of camp practices, so he will be able to show if he has the confidence and swagger that the league’s best corners have.
Waynes was praised by Vikings’ coaches throughout OTAs, but it’s clear he will have to earn his role by performing well when the stakes are higher during training camp and the preseason. Only a substantial injury stands to keep him from doing just that, and I expect Waynes to easily put himself in position to be a difference maker right out of the gate.
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.
