TCU corner Jeff Gladney was the last cornerback taken in the first round of the NFL Draft this year, but he still has a good chance of becoming a starter in 2020.
That’s because of three key departures from the Vikings — Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Mackensie Alexander. Waynes and Rhodes were starters in 2019 and Alexander was Minnesota’s nickel corner. That means Gladney can possibly come in right away and earn a lot of playing time.
Pro Football Focus likes the match between Gladney and the Vikings, saying that sometimes it’s not about when you go, but where you go. Here’s something else the outlet said:
Gladney joins a Vikings defense that earned PFF’s third-highest coverage grade in 2019 (91.3), and their safety tandem of Anthony Harris (91.6) and Harrison Smith (91.4) — who ranked first and second, respectively, among safeties in PFF coverage grade last year — is the best in the NFL.
Gladney joins a defense that is good but lacks depth at his position. Seems like a good fit if you’re him.