For historical mercy’s sake, the Minnesota Vikings are absolutely and fundamentally overdue to connect on a cornerback draft pick. This year, they pulled Charles Demmings out of Round 5 from Stephen F. Austin State University.
The last time a cornerback organically drafted by the Vikings stayed longer than a rookie contract? Thirteen years ago. His name was Xavier Rhodes. Since then, no corner has lasted more than five seasons, and most bail before that.
Based on the sheer sake of an oddity working itself out, Demmings might snap the naughty streak. Here are the details of the no-contracts-beyond-rookie-deals naughty CB streak.
The Vikings’ Brutal Streak of Drafting CBs
1. Jabari Price
Drafted: 2014
Departure: 2017 – – waived at final roster cuts
As a 7th-rounder, Price was really never expected to set the world on fire.
He appeared in 14 games as a rookie and worked primarily on special teams, logging just 47 defensive snaps. A two-game suspension altered his career outlook, then injuries largely erased his next two seasons. Minnesota finally dropped him before the 2017 season.
2. Trae Waynes
Drafted: 2015
Departure: 2020 – – signed with Bengals in free agency.
In retrospect, Vikings fans didn’t value Waynes enough – – probably because he wasn’t as stellar as peak Xavier Rhodes, who was the CB1 to Waynes’s CB2.
Waynes became the rare Vikings-drafted corner to finish his rookie contract. The 2015 1st-rounder developed into a full-time starter, playing 52 games over his four seasons in the Twin Cities. He totaled seven interceptions and 43 passes defended before Cincinnati paid him handsomely in 2020 free agency.
3. Mackensie Alexander
Drafted: 2016
Departure: 2020 – – signed with Bengals after rookie deal.
Alexander arrived as a 2nd-round pick in 2016 and settled into Minnesota’s nickel role. His best Vikings season came in 2018, when he recorded four sacks and 10 passes defended. He left for Cincinnati in 2020 – – just like Waynes – – returned for 2021, then departed again after that season.
He never played another regular season snap after his return to Minnesota in 2021.
4. Mike Hughes
Drafted: 2016
Departure: 2021 – – traded to Chiefs after injury-plagued tenure.
Hughes’s Vikings career began spectacularly with a pick-six in his 2018 NFL debut. Vikings faithful believed in their hearts of hearts that former boss Rick Spielman had drafted a baller.
Then injuries happened.
A torn ACL ended his rookie season, and neck problems followed. Minnesota received 24 games from the first-round pick before trading him to Kansas City in 2021.
5. Kris Boyd
Drafted: 2019
Departure: 2023 – – signed with Cardinals in free agency.
This scrappy son of a gun never became a dependable starting corner, but the 2019 7th-rounder carved out four seasons through special teams. He appeared in 58 games and made six starts on defense. In 2022, Boyd led Minnesota with 403 special-teams snaps before leaving in free agency.
6. Harrison Hand
Drafted: 2020
Departure: 2022 – – waived during preseason roster cuts.
This 5th-rounder’s top moment came as a rookie, intercepting Drew Brees on Christmas Day before starting the regular season finale. Hand played on special teams in 2021, then was waived during preseason roster reductions.
7. Jeff Gladney
Drafted: 2020
Departure: 2021 — released after felony assault indictment.
Gladney, a 1st-rounder from the same night Minnesota drafted Justin Jefferson, immediately became a usable defensive piece. Known for his tackling and aggression, he started 15 games and played 958 defensive snaps as a rookie. The Vikings released him the following August after a felony assault indictment; he was later acquitted.
Gladney died in a car accident on May 30, 2022.
8. Cameron Dantzler
Drafted: 2020
Departure: 2023 – – waived; Commanders claimed him.
“The Needle” made the PFWA All-Rookie Team as a rookie in 2020, but consistency and durability never followed. He started 26 of 35 Vikings games, intercepted three passes, and forced three fumbles. Minnesota waived him in March 2023 before the final year of his rookie contract.
He recently won a UFL Championship with Louisville and wants to return to the NFL.
9. Andrew Booth
Drafted: 2022
Departure: 2024 – – traded to Cowboys for Nahshon Wright.
Minnesota traded up for Booth at No. 42 in 2022, betting on 1st-round caliber talent despite his vast injury history. The gamble flopped.
Booth appeared in 23 games, started two, and recorded one pass defended. Two summers later, Minnesota swapped him to Dallas for Nahshon Wright. Wright didn’t last long with the Vikings, but became a Pro Bowler for the Chicago Bears soon after.
10. Akayleb Evans
Drafted: 2022
Departure: 2024 – – waived; Panthers claimed him.
Evans showed promise after Minnesota drafted him in the 4th round in 2022, eventually starting 15 games in 2023. That season produced 65 tackles, seven passes defended, three forced fumbles, and an interception. By late 2024, he had lost his defensive role.
He’s currently the CB4-CB5 in Carolina.
11. Mekhi Blackmon
Drafted: 2023
Departure: 2025 – – traded to Colts for sixth-round pick.
Blackmon looked like one of the Vikings’ encouraging cornerback picks as a 2023 rookie, banking eight passes defended and an interception across 15 games. Then a torn ACL on the first day of 2024 training camp erased his entire second season. Minnesota traded him the following August, a move that puzzles onlookers to this day.
He played 783 snaps for the Colts last year while tabulating a respectable 86.9 passer rating allowed.
12. Khyree Jackson
Drafted: 2024
Jackson is listed only for completeness and is excluded from the streak for obvious reasons.
RIP.
───────────── ─────────────
VikesNow Verdict: Minnesota’s history of drafting cornerbacks since Rhodes is bizarrely bleak. Demmings obviously isn’t guaranteed to break the streak, but his strong summer gives the Vikings their latest chance to finally develop and retain one of their own. History has to set itself straight at some point – – it’s inevitable. Why not now?
───────────── ─────────────
About The Author
