What cornerback should the Vikings draft in the NFL Draft?
It’s imperative that the Minnesota Vikings select a cornerback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s arguably their biggest positional need and must improve in order for them to compete in the NFC. They currently hold the 18th overall pick, which puts them in a perfect position to grab a top talent.
The Vikings top two cornerbacks are currently Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers. They aren’t awful, but don’t strike fear into a quarterback. Additionally, they lack young depth outside of them. It’s unlikely they see a meaningful improvement with this group unless they make significant changes this offseason.
Fortunately for them, some premier options await them in the first round of the NFL Draft. There are four main options that are considered top-32 talents among the national media. There are other prospects that certain analysts have higher, but they will be covered in future articles. Right now, it’s important to get to know these four targets for the Vikings.
Keith Abney II- Arizona State
Keith Abney isn’t the biggest corner, listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds (but looks much smaller on film); however, he is spectacular in coverage. Abney is a fluid mover, effortlessly transitioning from backpedaling to sprinting while in coverage. He has quick enough feet to mirror a receiver in man coverage, while containing great recovery speed if he falls behind. His biggest flaw is how handsy he can be in coverage, which can often result in defensive penalties. Regardless of this, Abney has all of the tools to be a shutdown cornerback at the next level, especially in man coverage.
Jermod McCoy- Tennessee
Jermod McCoy’s 2024 film is outstanding; unfortunately, he missed the entirety of 2025 with a torn ACL. This has put a serious question mark around his stock. His medical evaluation by teams at the NFL Combine will be pivotal.
McCoy is the most well-rounded cornerback in the class when healthy. He’s a smooth mover and is exceptional in both man and zone coverage. He has a high IQ, understanding his assignment, and uses the boundary as an extra defender. If the medicals come back positive, McCoy will be a number one cornerback for a long time in the NFL.
Mansoor Delane- LSU
Mansoor Delane transferred to LSU from Virginia Tech this offseason and surpassed all expectations. He has great ball skills, nabbing eight interceptions and 18 pass breakups in his career. Delane is incredibly versatile; he thrives as an outside cornerback but has experience in the slot. He moves with ease and can stay with any receiver. He’s fabulous in coverage, but isn’t the best run defender. He lacks physicality at the point of attack and has struggled with missed tackles.
Aveion Terrell- Clemson
Conversely, from Delane, Aveion Terrell thrives against the run. He’s an excellent competitor and flies downhill to defend the run. He constantly looks to rip the ball away, forcing five fumbles in 2025, and is a big-play waiting to happen. Besides defending the run, Terrell is impressive in coverage. He’s quick, which makes it challenging for defenders to separate. His biggest flaws are his frame, listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, and his struggles in press coverage.