With the NFL Combine underway, the Vikings will be performing a thorough examination of the defensive backs pool, looking to upgrade their secondary as quickly as possible. With that in mind, we're delivering a quick snapshot of five cornerbacks who will be under the spotlight this week in Indianapolis. With some additional thoughts provided by Scott Wright of DraftCountdown.com, here's a quintet worth keeping an eye on as the hyper-analysis of the combine begins …
Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
What's to love: It's not a stretch to say Jenkins has enough talent to quickly become a perennial Pro Bowler. He's an explosive athlete who has the skill to flourish in both man and zone coverage. Scouts continue to gush over his fluidity and ability to react. Without question, he's a first-round caliber player who could slip into Round 2. For the Vikings, that has to be at least a little intriguing.
But …: The reason Jenkins wound up at North Alabama is because his career at Florida was derailed by legal troubles. He was brought in twice for drug-related incidents and also had an arrest stemming from a fight. Jenkins' biggest supporters believe he has turned a corner from a maturity standpoint, taking responsibility for his past transgressions and looking to move forward. Still, the questions about how much he can be trusted will follow Jenkins for the foreseeable future. It's also worth noting that he is on the small side, measuring about 5-foot-9 and weighing 177 pounds.
Worth talking about: Even with all the secondary holes the Vikings are trying to plug, in the wake of the Chris Cook fiasco, can they really spend another second-round selection on a cornerback with character concerns? Yes, Jenkins' talent is intriguing. But you have to believe his off-the-field misconduct will be a strong repellant for Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. And it would take an awful lot to change that line of thinking.
Said Wright: "Going down to the Senior Bowl, it was important for me, just like it was for all the NFL scouts, to get a read on Jenkins. You naturally wonder, 'Is this a good kid who made a few stupid mistakes? Or are there some obvious signs of problems that are going to continue going forward?' In doing that research, you have to understand that players at this time of year go through media training and are schooled on how to best answer the tough questions. So I'm sure Jenkins has been rehearsed on what to say. But at first glance, he seems to be a charismatic guy who looks you in the eye when you're talking to him and is willing to own up to his mistakes. I was impressed."
That, however, doesn't mean he'll be a significant part of the Vikings' draft conversations.
Chase Minnifield, Virginia
What's to love: Minnifield does a lot of things well, a gifted player who has a feel for the game and good bloodlines. His father, Frank, made four Pro Bowls during his career as a corner. Even better: at a time of year when draft pundits become captivated with eye-opening workout times, Minnifield is flying under the radar somewhat. He will be available at the top of Round 2 and could possibly slide into Round 3.
But …: There are some questions as to how capable Minnifield is in flipping his hips and turning to run in coverage and a belief that he'd be a liability in man coverage systems. Might he need to fit into a zone defense to maximize his potential?