Early Impressions of 2015 NFL Draft Picks 11-15

May 27, 2015; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer speaks with cornerback Trae Waynes (26) at practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Trae Waynes

The Minnesota Vikings have running back Adrian Peterson coming back and want to play defense behind him. They’re pretty good up front, have Xavier Rhodes at one corner but need another to stop the high-octane passing attacks in their division. So with that in mind, the Vikings took Trae Waynes with the No. 11 overall pick.

The 6’1″, 190-pound Waynes has very good size and length for a corner and he’s athletic as all get out. Plus he was well-schooled at Michigan State, especially in the art of bump-and-run coverage, something the Vikings use a lot. He told Fox Sports, “Coming from Michigan State, very rarely did we ever have to play off man, so that transition was a little difficult for me at first, but it got better with time.Now I can press again, but now I know how to do both” coverage styles.”

He’s actually adjusted quite well, already starting to get some snaps with Minnesota’s starting defense. And in the process, he has teammates like 36-year-old corner Terrance Newman taking notice. Newman told Fox Sports, “Trae reminds me of Al Harris [former two-time Pro Bowl cornerback] a little bit. Waynes is long and lanky, and he’s got great press technique. He’s doing well.”

Next: Danny Shelton