Throughout the early portion of the NFL season, many mock drafts have had the Minnesota Vikings taking cornerback with their first selection in the NFL Draft. When the Vikings announced Monday that they had hired Brian Flores to be their defensive coordinator, it meant that cornerback was likely going to be a continued theme this offseason.
Diante Lee of the Athletic continued that trend when he released his mock draft on Wednesday, with the Vikings selecting Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III.
“Clark Phillips III is a bit on the smaller side in comparison to the other top corners in this class, but Minnesota must improve its coverage defenders. Also, Phillips is a competitive guy and doesn’t back off because of physical disadvantages. He’s a fluid mover, makes plays at the catch point and tackles well for his weight. Minnesota also might consider a player such as Baylor DT Siaki Ika here”
Phillips is a smaller cornerback but would instantly bring the physicality needed in a Brian Flores defense. Lee also suggested in his mock that the Vikings could look to go defensive tackle with their first pick. Either way, defense continues to be the theme for mock drafts and likely will stay that way until free agency arrives.
