Vikings take cornerback Trae Waynes with 11th pick in NFL draft

Their pass defense improved greatly in head coach Mike Zimmer's first season, but all the Vikings had to do was look around their division to determine that their secondary could use more reinforcements.

The Packers have MVP Aaron Rodgers throwing to Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has his own dynamic duo of wide receivers in Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. And say what you want about Jay Cutler, but the Bears boast Alshon Jeffery and now Kevin White, Chicago's first-round selection.

So Thursday night — during an uncharacteristically quiet first round at Winter Park that saw the team select just one player for once while hanging on to running back Adrian Peterson — the Vikings picked the prospect that pretty much every draft analyst predicted they would, snatching Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes with the No. 11 overall pick.

"You watch Chicago take the receiver from West Virginia at [No. 7], and knowing the receivers that we face in Green Bay and knowing the receivers that we face in Detroit … we're going to have to play some good defense," Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said. "We were able to really improve last year and I think adding a player like Trae Waynes will definitely upgrade our defense."

A native of Kenosha, Wis., Waynes played in 36 games over three years with the Spartans, starting in 27. In 2014, his junior year, he picked off three passes, broke up eight passes and made 46 tackles. Waynes finished his Michigan State career with six interceptions.

Waynes was voted first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media in 2014. He was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football.

Waynes, listed at 6-feet and 186 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds at the scouting combine, fastest among defensive backs. His performance in spandex solidified him as the top corner in this class in the eyes of many draft analysts. The majority of those same analysts also had the Vikings selecting him in their mock drafts.

The Vikings didn't hide their affection for Waynes. They spent time with him at the combine and Spielman and Zimmer traveled to Michigan State's campus to work him out. Waynes was also one of the team's "top-30" visits, checking out Winter Park in early April.

"Yeah, I could tell they liked me," Waynes said on a conference call.

Waynes is a feisty cover man who likes to press at the line of scrimmage, which appealed to Zimmer, who got his start in the NFL as a defensive backs coach.

"When you look at his physical traits, the length, the speed, the ability to play man coverage, it fits exactly what we're looking for in corners in this scheme," Spielman said.

The Vikings already have one promising young cornerback in Xavier Rhodes, whom they selected in the first round two years ago. Now they have added Waynes to a group that includes Captain Munnerlyn, Josh Robinson and free-agent addition Terence Newman.

Munnerlyn started for the Vikings in 2014, but Zimmer remarked this offseason that he was better suited to play inside against slot receivers. Robinson was their third cornerback last season. His play improved under Zimmer but was still inconsistent.

Cornerbacks often face a steep learning curve as rookies, but Zimmer hinted that he expects Waynes to be in the mix for a starting spot.

"I anticipate everyone will compete for a starting job," Zimmer said with a smirk.

Before the Vikings were on the clock, wide receivers Amari Cooper and White were selected by the Raiders and Bears, respectively. Offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, another prospect who interested the Vikings, went in the top 10 picks, too, to the Redskins.

Spielman said that when the Vikings were on the clock, there was "a lot of activity" in terms of teams looking to trade up for their pick. But ultimately Spielman decided it was best to stand pat and select Waynes over wide receiver DeVante Parker, Teddy Bridge­water's go-to guy at Louisville.

That was certainly a relief to Zimmer, who hopes to have a 1-2 punch at cornerback similar to what he had with the Bengals in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph.

"I know for the last week we've been kind of sweating that he might go before we get a chance to pick him," Zimmer said.

Spielman was excited, too, to add not only a good player and athlete to his emerging young defense, but also a 22-year-old with high character and a good work ethic.

"The overall package with Trae Waynes was everything we were looking for," Spielman said.