Vikings draft Trae Waynes in the first round

With the 11th pick in the NFL draft, the Vikings selected Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes

May 1, 2015 at 2:19AM
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes (15) runs against Jacksonville State in the first half of a NCAA college football game in East Lansing, Mich., Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes (15) runs against Jacksonville State in the first half of a NCAA college football game in East Lansing, Mich., Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (Dml - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

With the 11th pick in the NFL draft, the Vikings selected Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes.

Of course.

The majority of mock drafts in recent weeks had the Vikings selecting Waynes, who played in 36 games over three years with the Spartans. In 2014, his junior year, he picked off three passes and broke up eight passes. He finished his Michigan State career with six interceptions.

Waynes is listed at 6-foot and 186 pounds and he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds at the combine, solidifying him as the top cornerback in the draft in the eyes of most analysts. He is a feisty cover man who likes to press at the line, which surely appealed to Vikings coach Mike Zimmer.

The Vikings have one promising young corner in Xavier Rhodes. Now they have added Waynes to a mix that includes Captain Munnerlyn, Josh Robinson and free-agent addition Terence Newman.

Before the Vikings were on the clock, wide receivers Amari Cooper and Kevin White were selected by the Raiders and Bears, respectively. Offensive lineman Brandon Scherff went to the Redskins.

The Vikings aren't scheduled to be on the clock until the 45th overall pick in the second round. But with General Manager Rick Spielman manning the draft room, don't go to bed just quite yet.

Here's more information on Waynes:

Size: 6-0, 186 pounds
Age: 22 (Born July 25, 1992)
Hometown: Kenosha, Wis.
College: Michigan State
On Twitter: @twaynes_15
Key stat: Waynes' 4.31-second 40-yard dash was the fastest among defensive backs at the combine
At Michigan State: Started 27 games, was first-team All Big Ten in 2014 and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back in college football). Played in 36 games over three seasons with Spartans, starting 27. Had one year of eligibility remaining. Selected as first-team All-Big Ten in 2014. Was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award (top defensive back). Was defensive recipient of MSU's Jim Adams Award (unsung hero). Had three interceptions and 46 tackles in 2014. In 2013 started all 13 games and played in nine games in 2012 as a redshirt freshman.
At Bradford High School in Kenosha: All-state in football as a senior despite missing three games because of injuries. All-county in baseball as an outfielder, and was third in the 100 meters (10.85 seconds) at the 2011 Division I state track meet.
Did you know? Waynes and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon were teammates at Bradford High School. Carmen Gordon, Melvin's mother, told ESPN about Waynes, "He's like my son too." Gordon was taken at No. 15 by the Chargers.
NFL Network's Mike Mayock: "He's a little bit stiff, but most of those long guys are. He's got great speed and he comes from a college program where they tackle and are held accountable. He is clean on and off the field."
And finally: Waynes' parents, Erin and Ron, are middle-school counselors. "[The NFL] was never our agenda in raising him," Ron Waynes told the Chicago Tribune. "Don't tell me about the pros, tell me what degree you want to get. And we put him in everything — piano, swimming, drums, wrestling, basketball, soccer, cross-country. Our thing was just be a good person."

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Matt Vensel

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