Minnesota lands an aggressive cornerback with disruptive traits. This Pro Football Focus mock pick offers a scheme fit for their defensive needs.
The Minnesota Vikings (9-8) have seen plenty of mock draft predictions over the past month or so. Some of them have come at positions they would rather not draft. Others have been for players they'd rather not have.
One mock draft prediction could beat all deal breakers. Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema sent Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood to the Vikings with the No. 18 pick. He wrote the following of Hood's traits and how they could do well in Minnesota.
"The Vikings could use an infusion of talent at cornerback, particularly one with Hood’s aggressiveness at the catch point. He has recorded 16 forced incompletions over the past two seasons and thrives in off coverage looks, a staple of Brian Flores’ defensive scheme. If retained, Hood has the tools to become an impact contributor in a secondary that values anticipation and ball disruption."
Vikings fans are becoming familiar with a Tennessee cornerback being mocked to them lately. Only usually it is Hood's teammate Jermod McCoy that gets mocked to the Vikings. McCoy, who has missed time recovering from an ACL injury may have a high ceiling but certainly has an uncertain floor, as many players never regain past explosiveness after ACL injuries.
Hood is both a safer and still solid pick at the position judging by what little we have seen of him. He possesses the size and athleticism that signals he belongs in the league, but his production and skill set also match that of what we expect from an NFL cornerback.
The Tennessee prospect also checks the positional need box. Minnesota is looking to add someone, or at least they should, at every level of the defense. The impetus for adding at all three levels revolves around what the team is set to lose perhaps more than what it lacked in 2025. Albeit at cornerback more than linebacker, safety or defensive line, the motivation to draft actually is about upgrading the position.
According to Sikkema, Hood is a scheme fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Whether or not Flores is back or not is up for debate, but one could see the Vikings trying to find a similar defensive play caller if they lose Flores to keep the scheme intact.
Whether or not the Vikings promote from within or hire a similar coordinator from elsewhere is still to be seen, but for now, Hood's traits match what Minnesota is looking for at the cornerback position. We'll monitor if Hood stays a potential target as the draft process evolves.