Diamonds in the Rough: Two Late-Round Safeties the Vikings Should Consider
Josh Frey
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Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Minnesota Vikings have an important draft coming up this spring. Once again, the Purple and Gold found themselves just short of a playoff appearance in 2021, and the 2022 NFL Draft could go a long way towards proving whether or not they’ll contend for a spot in the 2022 NFL playoffs. Obviously, much of that immediate impact will (or at least should) come from the first two days. Day Three, as I’ve always said, is reserved for taking as many shots at “diamond in the rough” players as you possibly can.
As for the Minnesota Vikings, I’ve already gone through a Day Three mock draft in the past, and with the mostly positive reaction to that, I figured I’d jump into the topic again. This time though, I will be focusing on two prospects from a position group that could get hairy in the next couple years: safety. The Vikings could their most consistent defender from 2021 to free agency, and Harrison Smith, while talented as ever, is a ticking clock in terms of Father Time. The Vikings need to find some solutions at the position, and the potential is there in these two players.
Leon O’Neal Jr. (Texas A&M)
Big expectations existed for Leon O’Neal Jr. ahead of the 2021 CFB season. Some were lived up to, some were left in disappointment. Either way, O’Neal now looks to be selected at some point towards the end of the 2022 NFL Draft. The big safety out of Texas A&M is probably a mid-Day Three choice in the late fifth-early sixth round area.
The abilities of O’Neal are unquestioned. He has unbelievable closing speed, and this can lull opposing QBs into a sense of security when throwing to receivers. O’Neal closes fast and can deliver a punishing blow to break up the pass. This skill as a heavy-hitter can also be beneficial as a blitzer. He uses that ridiculous burst of speed to get into the backfield and unloads a hit on the QB or RB. Additionally, while O’Neal is considerably shorter than top prospect Kyle Hamilton, he has similar length. This length has proven useful in coverage, and it can make up for a few question marks with his long-term speed.
O’Neal certainly has some kinks to work out in terms of his coverage on defense, and while that could take a season of development, he has the potential to contribute immediately on special teams. He has experience in both the kick and punt return coverage teams, and Minnesota could use that in 2022.
Nick Cross (Maryland)
Once again, I have the Vikings eying a heavy-hitting safety for developmental purposes. If you look at Nick Cross, he has a lot of the same physical abilities as many starting free safeties in the NFL. He is a physical run defender that can help stuff the box when needed. With his 215-pound frame, Maryland sometimes used him as a linebacker hybrid near the goal line.
Again, Cross is a guy that the Vikings should consider as a developmental safety if they select him, but he can contribute immediately to the special teams group. This time though, Cross could find himself as a punt returner. His agility and balance makes him a slippery return man, and the duo of Nwangwu and Cross could create a lot of headaches for opposing teams. If he works on some of his tackling and ability to close on coverage assignments, Cross could be a starter down the line.