Since Xavier Rhodes, the Minnesota Vikings have not given a second contract to a single cornerback they have drafted. From Trae Waynes to Mike Hughes to Cameron Dantzler, every young cornerback this team has pinned their expectations on has disappointed in one way or another.
Even now, the cornerback room looks to be one of the weaker units on a defense already short on talent. Byron Murphy is a solid player, but Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, and Andrew Booth Jr are behind him., all representing uncertainty in one way or another.
Cornerback feels like a need the Vikings should address early in this draft — yet again, and hopefully with better results. Considering the relative lack of top-end cornerbacks in this class on Day 1, it makes sense for the front office to look to Days 2 and 3 to find some supplementary talent at CB.
Notre Dame’s Cam Hart should be at the top of their wish list.
At 6’2″, 207 lbs., Hart has the size that defensive coordinators love in their cornerbacks. He also has the frame and an NFL-ready body that will make it harder for opposing receivers to dominate him physically. Hart is a fifth-year senior who turns 24 in his rookie year, which might turn some scouts off. But I don’t think this will be the case for the Vikings. They drafted another redshirt senior, Blackmon, in the third round last year.
While Hart’s size would imply limited speed or athleticism, he doesn’t lack for either of these things. He ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and played even faster than that, hitting 21.7 mph during a game. Hart’s top-end speed and long strides make for a combo that every defensive coordinator will want, allowing him to keep up with opposing receivers downfield. Yet he also has a fluidity most corners his size lack. He can flip his hips well and stay on pace with shiftier, smaller receivers.
Hart also has excellent recovery speed and doesn’t panic when out of position. His speed and non-stop motor allow him to stay in the play. Combined with his football IQ and play-recognition skills, he can easily disrupt passing lanes, using his size and speed to his advantage against wideouts.
Hart’s age would scare some teams off, but he has continued to improve every season at Notre Dame. He possesses tremendous NFL potential if the team that drafts him coaches him up and uses him correctly.
One of Hart’s most eye-catching (and promising) qualities is his capacity to rise to the occasion against other top competitors. Marvin Harrison Jr. has been one of the best receiver prospects since Ja’Marr Chase. Hart held him to just three catches for 39 yards during their matchup. Even more impressive in terms of his progression was that quarterbacks targeted him only 28 times during his final season.
Hart also stood out in the Senior Bowl. With his rare mix of athleticism and size, Hart dominated opposing receivers, making it harder for them to get any sort of consistent separation against his coverage.
While his coverage skills are impressive, Hart has some weaknesses. Most people would assume that his size and speed would make him equally adept in the run game, but too often opposing receivers push him out of the play.
Hart will need to improve on that to hang with the pros, because teams have heavily favored more outside zone scheme in the run game, which also tests the cornerback’s ability to tackle. The good news is that he is a willing run defender and is not afraid to make a tackle; his struggles are with his technique.
He also tends to be a bit grabby in coverage. While this might slide in the college game, where pass interference is just a 15-yard penalty, it can be a deal-breaker in the NFL. Hart can correct that, though. Vikings fans will remember Xavier Rhodes’ evolution and how he learned not to draw flags.
Other than his age, injury concerns may be the biggest factor working against Hart. He has suffered two shoulder injuries, and teams will need to monitor his medicals and ensure that these don’t flare up again in the NFL.
Suppose Hart’s medicals do check out. Given his size, athleticism, football IQ, and prowess in coverage, there is no reason he shouldn’t be selected in the third or fourth round. Although the Vikings don’t have a pick in this range, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah loves to make trades down around this range, and the Vikings could end up maneuvering their way to a spot where they can draft him.
If Hart is available in the middle rounds, which is a strong possibility, they should pounce on the opportunity to add depth to their cornerback room. Who knows, he might even turn out to be good enough to earn a second contract.
