The Minnesota Vikings have selected Trae Waynes at No. 11 overall in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Waynes—a 6’0″, 186-pound cornerback—earned first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors at Michigan State as a junior. Throughout his collegiate career, he registered 101 tackles, 13 pass breakups and six interceptions. Waynes started 27 games for the Spartans.
At the NFL Combine, he posted a position-best 4.31-second 40-yard dash that helped solidify a place among the top prospects at corner and safely in the top 32 picks.
Waynes is a fluid corner capable of playing press-man, isn’t afraid of defending the run and has decent ball skills. A key area of improvement is his technique, because Waynes plays a little too handsy—something that begs for illegal contact penalties in the NFL.
He joins Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith in the Minnesota secondary.
Photo: USA Today Sports