Vikings Take Standout Alabama CB in The Athletic's New Mock Draft

In the last six NFL drafts, the Vikings have taken five cornerbacks in the top three rounds. Almost none have panned out — which means they still have a significant need at one of football's premium defensive positions.

Rd. 1, 2018: Mike Hughes
Rd. 1, 2020: Jeff Gladney
Rd. 3, 2020: Cameron Dantzler
Rd. 2, 2022: Andrew Booth Jr.
Rd. 3, 2023: Mekhi Blackmon

None of the first three names lasted more than three seasons with the Vikings, and Booth is trending in that direction after being buried on the depth chart for two years. Blackmon showed some promising signs as a rookie, giving him a chance to be the Vikings' first good homegrown corner since the days of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander.

Heading into 2024, the Vikings have Byron Murphy Jr. and Blackmon as their top two corners, with Akayleb Evans and Booth hoping to turn things around in year three. The cupboard isn't completely bare, but Murphy is only under contract for one more year and Minnesota could really use a true CB1 on a rookie contract. That's why it would make plenty of sense for them to go in that direction once again in the first round of this year's draft.

Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Clemson's Nate Wiggins, and Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell are among the 2024 corners who the Vikings could consider taking with the 11th pick. In a new mock draft from The Athletic's Diante Lee, the Vikings go with Arnold, the first-team All-American from Bama who hasn't even turned 21 yet.

Rd. 1, Pick 11: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Vikings can go in a few different directions here (and, in fact, I think it would make sense to trade back), but rebuilding on the fly means bringing in young talent at premium positions. At 6-0 and around 200 pounds, Arnold has prototypical size to match up with any receiver, and his change-of-direction skills keep him in tight coverage across the entire route tree. The ball skills he showed this season (five INTs) marked a major development — and it’s why I feel he’s the top CB in the class.

Arnold is a stud. The 20-year-old stuffed the stat sheet with five interceptions, 12 total passes defended, 6.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble last season as a junior. He primarily plays on the boundary, but he can also move inside to nickel. According to PFF, Arnold allowed just 41 catches on 79 targets (52 percent) while earning an 88.3 grade. He's a playmaker in coverage who also shines in run defense.

In other words, he feels like a perfect fit for Brian Flores' defense as the Vikings' CB1 of the future.

Alabama CB Terrion Arnold plays with the physical demeanor and aggression that a lot of NFL teams are going to love in a cornerback. Flies around and tries to get a hit in wherever he can.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 25, 2024

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