Combine Star Namedrops Vikings as Destination
For good reason, the Vikings news exclusively revolves around this week’s free agency activities. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been extremely active, bringing in three former Pro Bowlers to bolster the offensive and defensive lines, as well as Will Fries, someone who wants to go to the Pro Bowl soon.
Combine Star Namedrops Vikings as Destination
But the second big offseason event is coming up: The draft. It will take place in Green Bay on April 24th.
In the last few months, mock drafts have prepared Skol Nation for help in the secondary and the defensive line, although things might have changed in free agency.
Still, at this point, adding a cornerback could make sense. The good news is that one of the most fascinating prospects at the position is intrigued by the purple franchise.
First, Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston dominated at the combine, and then, he appeared on the show Up & Adams and was asked about his favorite destinations:
“Honestly, you know, I really enjoyed my Zoom call that I had with the Seahawks, and even meeting with them at the combine” Hairston said. “I enjoyed our formal [interview], I enjoyed my formal with the Vikings as well.”
The Vikings could use more cornerback help. Hairston would be a nice infusion of youth.
Following the departures of Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, and Fabian Moreau and the two new signings of Tavierre Thomas and Isaiah Rodgers, Minnesota’s cornerback room now looks like this:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Tavierre Thomas
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
In the current room, Murphy Jr. is the uncontested top cornerback. Rodgers and Blackmon could form the CB2 and CB3 rotation, while Tavierre Thomas and McGlothern are the two backups.
Back to Hairston, he is 21 years old and played three seasons at the University of Kentucky. In 32 games, the corner recorded 89 tackles and six interceptions with an impressive three INT return touchdowns.
At the scouting combine, Hairston recorded an elite 9.68 relative athletic score (out of 10). At 5-11, 183 lbs, he ran the 40-yard dash in blazing 4.29 seconds and confirmed his athleticism with remarkable vertical and broad jumps.
Kyle Crabbs from The33rdTeam wrote about the defender, “Hairston projects as a zone-heavy scheme developmental starter. He’s feisty, combative, fearless, and agile — all qualities that can allow him to play from depth and process plays unfolding before pressing the issue in space and on the edge. Hairston could benefit from a year of added strength development, but his eye for the game suggests he can be called upon early if necessary.”
He will likely be available when the Vikings are on the clock, and he might even be there if the club trades back a few spots to secure an extra pick or two.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt