Raising Zona
FanSided

2016 NFL Mock Draft: February edition

By Johnathan Henson

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 31
Next
Nov 21, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

23rd Pick – Minnesota Vikings (11-5)
Vernon Hargreaves III – CB
Florida – Junior
5-10, 196 Pounds

The Vikings did a valient job last off-season to make big playoff pushes towards the end of the year, and with the Vikings almost contending more with the Packers then in recent years. I love the resiliance they showed to get to the playoffs, and they almost beat the NFC Champions from 2014. The Vikings do have some solid pieces in place, with such great pieces like Adrian Peterson, Teddy Bridgewater (if he can get his accuracy issues handled), Matt Kalil, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendricks. The Vikings got beat a few times on long-balls with Terence Newman defending, but I see the Vikings fixing that this off-season.

As everyone already knows, Hargreaves is a baller and a ball-hawk with scheme versatility, and the Vikings could be in a spot to have the most dominating group of secondary players. With Vernon Hargreaves, you get a guy who started seeing less and less balls thrown his way, and that because of the skills he has a lock-down corner. He plays with great fundamentals, has great vision, and plays very solid in zone-coverage (if need be). I don’t want to send him to the wolves right away, so I probably make him a special teams ace so that Hargreaves can improve on something that is being questioned right now, his willingness to tackle and wrap up. I don’t question it, I think when he puts his effort out there, he is a good tackling corner.

With Andrew Sendejo and Robert Blanton as free agents this off-season, it makes me think about the status of the secondary quite a bit. The selection of VH3 is a tricky one, but one that I am very willing to explain. You slide Harrison Smith to strong safety, Captain Munnerlyn to free safety, Trae Waynes to starter across from Xavier Rhodes, and put Vernon Hargreaves III in the slot corner position (Marcus Sherels old spot).

Player Comparison: Darius Slay – Detroit Lions

Next: The Bengals are on the clock

Home/Cardinals Draft