The Viking’s Rookie Nobody is Talking About

The Viking’s 2021 draft class is absolutely loaded with talent. Both Christian Darrisaw and Wyatt Davis will be day one contributors. Kellen Mond could very likely be the quarterback of the future. The Vikings also selected two athletic edge rushers, who could eventually turn into a Danielle Hunter 2.0. But the one player that was selected by the Vikings that isn’t getting enough attention, is safety Camryn Bynum. Bynum played cornerback at California in college, but will make a transition to safety in Mike Zimmer’s defense. Bynum has all the tools to be a successful player along side Harrison Smith.

Under the Radar

Bynum was originally projected to be a 7th round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, but the Vikings took a chance on the four year starter in the 4th round. Rick Spielman actually announced the selection on draft day, and made it clear that he was considered a safety, not a corner. Bynum has average speed, but his ball skills and play recognition are top notch, which make him a very intriguing fit at safety. Bynum was also a four-year starter and two-time captain, so he has plenty of experience, and has elite leadership abilities.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had this to say about Bynum,

“Scouts rave about the personal character of Bynum, but concerns over his athletic ability and speed are very real. Despite his time as a press corner, his poor recovery speed and inability to match NFL receivers in man coverage will likely pigeonhole him into a zone-heavy scheme or force him to flip to safety.”

While some of this insight seems negative, all these concerns can be slightly put aside, because Bynum, in fact, is moving to safety in the NFL. At safety, speed is not nearly as important, and instincts and recognition come more into play, which Bynum excels at. The California alum is also very disciplined, and we all know that is a very important trait playing for rigid head coach Mike Zimmer.

Learning from the best

Harrison Smith

Camryn Bynum is one lucky man. He has never played safety and he has yet to play a down in the NFL. Luckily for Bynum, Harrison Smith is here to save the day. Bynum went on to say,

“He (Harrison Smith) will probably get annoyed and bothered, but I’m going to be in his ear asking all sorts of questions.”

The Vikings will love to have a guy on their team eager to learn from day one, especially from a futue hall of famer in Harrison Smith.

Draft Day Video

It’s also amazing to see this kind of enthusiasm out of Bynum.

It’ll be fun to see this guy’s future play out, but in my opinion, he’s got a bright future ahead of him.

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