The Minnesota Vikings went into the 2022 NFL draft with a need at cornerback, and they managed to land a first-round talent on Day 2 when they traded up to grab Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. with the No. 42 overall pick.
If not for a strained quad muscle that forced him to pull out of drills at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Booth could have easily been a first-round selection, but his fall was the Vikings’ gain, as they grabbed one of the most pro-ready corners in the draft outside of the top 40 picks.
Booth has an NFL-ready combination of physical and mental traits, with the athleticism, instincts, ball skills and awareness to be a quality starter right out of the gate. His polished technique should allow him to challenge NFL receivers right away, and his ability to excel in press man coverage against some of the best pass-catchers in the college ranks should serve him well at the next level.
Cam Dantzler appears to be developing into one of the league’s better young corners, but the Vikings needed another talented prospect to line up on the other side of the field. Booth was a top-20 player on our board, and could prove to be a huge steal at a premium position for Minnesota.
