Vikings Draft targets: Is Washington CB Trent McDuffie worth it at No. 12 overall?

Here is the situation: the Vikings are on the clock at No. 12 general and simply realized that the Washington Commanders took Derek Stingley Jr. or Kyle Hamilton one decide earlier. Stingley, Hamilton, Sauce Gardner, the highest three edge rushers, and 5 offensive gamers have already been taken.

What ought to GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah do?

Loads of gamers could possibly be choices at 12 in that situation, however one identify stands out: Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie. The consensus No. 3 nook behind Gardner and Stingley, McDuffie would make a variety of sense for the Vikings, who’ve a serious want on the place. Minnesota’s present CB starters are Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler on the surface, with Chandon Sullivan within the slot. That is a satisfactory unit, however the depth behind that trio is severely missing. Extra importantly, solely Dantzler is beneath contract in 2023.

The query Adofo-Mensah and his employees should reply is whether or not or not they suppose McDuffie is price taking at 12. That’ll come all the way down to how they’ve him graded on their board and the way they really feel concerning the subsequent tier of corners, one that features Florida’s Kaiir Elam, Clemson’s Andrew Sales space Jr., Washington’s Kyler Gordon, and Auburn’s Roger McCreary. In the event that they view McDuffie as clearly higher than the remainder of that group, taking him at 12 is smart. If not, making an attempt to commerce down or taking a non-CB at 12 and ready to handle that want could be interesting choices.

McDuffie is an fascinating prospect. He is not a giant, family identify with Faculty Soccer Playoff expertise like Gardner and Stingley. Taking part in for a Washington staff that went 15-14 over the past three years and whose video games are on late at night time for a lot of the nation will do this. However McDuffie is improbable relating to the psychological and technical aspect of taking part in nook, and he is received loads of athleticism. If he was 6’2″ like Gardner, he’d in all probability be a locked-in top-ten decide.

That is the most important knock towards McDuffie: he is between 5’10” and 5’11” and has sub-30″ arms, which places him within the fifth percentile for arm size as a nook. He additionally has comparatively small palms, for what that is price. In consequence, some groups might not wish to take an opportunity on McDuffie early within the first spherical as a result of he does not meet sure bodily thresholds. The record of profitable NFL exterior cornerbacks with sub-30″ arms is just not an extended one.

Nonetheless, there are many causes to consider McDuffie might shine on the subsequent degree, 29.75″ arms and all. He is an ideal athlete with 4.44 pace and an explosive decrease physique. Extra notably, he is extremely superior from a psychological perspective, taking part in with nice anticipation and really feel. McDuffie’s footwork, tackling potential, and aggressive toughness are all wonderful. His movie reveals a participant who is sort of at all times in full management, and his lack of manufacturing on the ball (2 INTs, 10 PD, 3 FF in 26 profession begins) might be defined by groups often shying away from even throwing the ball in his path.

Here is the scouting report from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who ranks McDuffie as his No. 2 cornerback (forward of Stingley) and No. 12 general participant:

A 3-year starter at Washington, McDuffie was an outdoor cornerback in former head coach Jimmy Lake’s defensive scheme. After incomes a beginning job as a real freshman, he rapidly established himself as one of many high cowl corners within the nation, although that wasn’t mirrored within the stat sheet as a result of offenses would typically throw away from him. McDuffie is fluid in each man and zone coverages and barely seems confused athletically due to his really feel for timing and spacing. Whereas he’s a high athlete, his psychological abilities could be much more spectacular with eyes which might be dialed in and the processing to type by means of every little thing and talk like an additional coach on the sector. Total, McDuffie may not hit splendid dimension thresholds for some, however he’s a simple promote in draft rooms as a result of he has excellent athleticism, intelligence and is well-schooled in numerous strategies. He has a excessive ceiling and a excessive flooring and may begin as an NFL rookie.     

If the Vikings actually like McDuffie, I might don’t have any concern with them taking him at 12. He might seemingly earn a beginning job or a big rotational position both inside or exterior as rookie, and he has the entire instruments to be a long-term Professional Bowl-caliber participant. Sure, his lack of dimension is notable, however he makes up for that along with his athleticism, soccer IQ, and method.

In a super world, the Vikings would commerce again and nonetheless land McDuffie within the late teenagers or early 20s. However the danger of doing that’s you are counting on him making it previous the Ravens at 14 and the Eagles at 15, to call a pair groups out there for a nook. Buying and selling down is smart if there are different corners in spherical one or two the Vikings actually like.

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