With their second pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected former TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney. The Vikings needed help in their secondary, and Gladney was deserving of being a first-round pick.
When it comes evaluating cornerbacks, there’s few things an NFL team values more than ball production. With NFL offenses scoring more and more points on what feels like a yearly basis, corners that can get their hands on the ball and force takeaways are hot commodities in today’s climate.
Gladney was a big-time producer at TCU where he posted an astounding 26 pass deflections over his last two seasons alone. Gladney uses his excellent footwork and sticky coverage ability to run with his man throughout the completion of their route, where his instincts and better-than-average arm length gives him a chance to get his hands on the ball. Gladney does a fantastic job attacking the ball at the catch point with an aggressive mindset, and has the production to show for it.
Few corners in this draft class showcase the type of feisty competitiveness that Gladney showed on tape. Gladney’s motor is always running hot, and he has the ability to surprise bigger receivers with just how physical he is. Gladney stands at just 5-10, 191 pounds, but you wouldn’t know it based on his tape.
The Vikings passing defense really struggled last season, and they moved on from Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander and Xavier Rhodes in free agency. This is nearly a complete overhaul for the back-end of the Vikings defense, and Gladney has the ability to quickly change the make-up of their cornerback room. He’ll have to prove he can hang with NFL receivers, but Gladney has all the makings of a shut-down corner.
Read our exclusive interview with Gladney here.
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