The Minnesota Vikings picked up cornerback Trae Waynes’ fifth-year option Monday morning, setting up the former first-round pick for a $9.069 million payday in 2019.
It would have been more surprising had the Vikings declined the option. Fifth-year options are only guaranteed due to injury, so the Vikings could still part with Waynes if his play were to deteriorate in 2018. That seems unlikely, though, considering Waynes has been on a positive trajectory since his rookie year in 2015. While he’s not yet at the level of counterpart Xavier Rhodes, who received a hefty extension last summer, $9 million is a fair price to pay Waynes next year if he continues to improve.
Waynes had 57 tackles, 11 passes defended and two interceptions a season ago, starting all 16 regular season games. He struggled in the NFC Championship Game, allowing seven receptions and two touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the lowest-rated cornerback in the conference championship round of the playoffs.
The Vikings drafted another first-round cornerback in Mike Hughes on Thursday, who should provide depth at the position.
Undrafted free agents signed
The Vikings officially announced the addition of 17 undrafted free agents to go with their eight-man draft class. It’s a bigger class than usual. Last year, the Vikings only signed 13 UDFAs.
Here are the 17 names:
The Vikings did not draft a wide receiver or a running back, so it makes sense that they added four receivers and two running backs, not to mention Kamryn Pettway, who is listed as a fullback but was a running back in college.
Hercules Mata’afa is an intriguing prospect who played on the defensive line at Washington State despite being 6-foot-2, 250 pounds. He’ll shape up as a linebacker in the NFL.
Holton Hill is a long, talented corner out of Texas who dropped because of off-field issues but could have massive upside if he cleans up his act.
Receiver Jake Wieneke began at Maple Grove High School and then played for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, amassing over 5,000 yards in his college career with 59 receiving touchdowns. He was second-round pick Dallas Goedert’s teammate the last four seasons.
