The clock is ticking on the 2017 NFL Draft.
One of the league's most important events kicks off with the first round at 7 p.m. (CT) on April 27 in Philadelphia. The second and third rounds begin at 6 p.m. (CT) on April 28. Rounds 4-7 start at 11 a.m. (CT) on April 29.
The Vikings currently have eight selections in the draft, beginning with the 48th overall pick, which is the No. 16 spot in the second round.
Vikings.com is taking a glance at the top prospects at each position leading up to the draft.
We'll take a look at cornerbacks in the penultimate preview before the draft.
Where the Vikings Stand
Xavier Rhodes made his first Pro Bowl after snagging a team-high five interceptions and ranking second on the team with 14 passes defended. Trae Waynes led the Vikings with 16 passes defended and had three interceptions in his second season. Veteran Terence Newman had an interception. Marcus Sherels made an impact on special teams with a pair of punt returns for touchdowns. Second-round pick Mackensie Alexander returns for his second season, and Jabari Price aims to get back on the field after missing the entire 2016 season with an injury. Tre Roberson spent parts of 2016 on the practice squad, and Terrell Sinkfield is now a cornerback after attending last year's training camp as a wide receiver.
Recent Draft History (over past five years)
Total number of linebackers taken: 154
Round 1: 21
Round 2: 17
Round 3: 23
Round 4: 23
Round 5: 23
Round 6: 25
Round 7: 22
Teams can never have enough cornerbacks, a main reason why the position is consistently picked throughout each of the seven rounds. While early-round players are oftentimes counted upon to make an immediate defensive impact, they can also help on special teams.
The Prospects (based on rankings by CBS Sports)
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1. Marshon Lattimore
Ohio State, Redshirt sophomore, 6-foot, 193 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds
Broad jump: 11 feet
Vertical jump: 38.5 inches
2016 stats: recorded 41 tackles (30 solo), 1.0 tackle for loss, nine pass breakups and four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in 13 games; named First-Team All-Big Ten by coaches and Second-Team All-Big Ten by media
Hot take: According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Lattimore is a "twitchy athlete with the lower body explosiveness to spring in any direction. Attaches himself hip-to-hip in coverage and runs better routes than the receiver. Above average top-end speed. Secondary burst to close cushions or recover after a false step."
Brugler also noted Lattimore "lacks ideal bulk and length on his frame. Plays near the line of scrimmage, but rarely jams, allowing receivers to make first contact and knock him off the route. Needs to better play the ball with his back turned to the play."
2. Gareon Conley
Ohio State, Redshirt junior, 6-foot, 195 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds
Bench press: 11 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches
Vertical jump: 37 inches
3-cone drill: 6.68 seconds (tied for third among cornerbacks)
20-yard shuttle: 4.18 seconds
2016 stats: totaled 26 tackles (21 solo) with eight passes defended and four interceptions; earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors from coaches and was a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection from the media; helped Ohio State reach semifinals of College Football Playoffs
Hot take: According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Conley has the "desired frame and length for the next level. Collects his feet quickly to press-and-shadow different types of receivers. Long-strider with enough lower body twitch to stay snug in man coverage. Route anticipation to read and get a head start."
Rang also noted Conley "plays too much on his heels, causing him to labor out of his stance and at the top of routes. Athleticism isn't an issue, but moves a tad mechanical in his transition. Comfortable playing nose-to-nose at the line of scrimmage, but rarely jams or engages receivers off the snap."
3. Kevin King
Washington, Senior, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.43 seconds
Bench press: 11 reps of 225 pounds
Vertical jump: 39.5 inches
3-cone drill: 6.56 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 3.89 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.14 seconds
2016 stats: started all 14 games; recorded 44 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 13 passes defended; Honorable Mention All-Pac-12; Honorable Mention Academic All-Pac-12
Hot take: According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, King "offers rare size at cornerback with a lean, tapered frame, including very long limbs. Surprisingly agile in coverage, showing the loose hips to turn and shadow receivers downfield when in press coverage. Will extend an arm but isn't reliant upon landing his initial jam."
Rang also noted that King "is not as consistently physical as his size and occasional big hits might indicate. Too often seems more interested in ripping at the ball with his tackles and has too many of his tackle attempts broken."
4. Chidobe Awuzie
Colorado, Senior, 6-foot, 202 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.43 seconds
Bench press: 16 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 11 feet
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
3-cone drill: 6.81 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.14 seconds
2016 stats: started all 14 games; recorded 84 total tackles with 12.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions and seven passes defended; co-recipient of CU's 2016 Zack Jordan Award that goes to the Most Valuable Player; First-team All-Pac-12 selection by the Associated Press; Second-Team All-Pac-12 honoree by coaches and Phil Steele
Hot take: According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Awuzie has "fluid, controlled steps with easy change of direction allows for extended mirroring from press. Decent jam to disrupt. Carries smooth backpedal downfield with excellent mirror-and-match footwork in man coverage."
Zierlein also noted Awuzie is a "short strider. Appears to lack long, recovery speed if beaten over top. Feels smaller than his listed size. Can be handsy down the field with pulls and tugs that turn into flags as a pro."
5. Marlon Humphrey
Alabama, Redshirt sophomore, 6-foot, 197 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds (sixth among cornerbacks)
Bench press: 10 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches (tied for eighth among cornerbacks)
3-cone drill: 6.75 seconds (fifth among cornerbacks)
2016 stats: totaled 36 tackles (26 solo) with three tackles for loss; added two interceptions, five passes defended and a forced fumble; named as First-Team All-American by Football Writers Association of America; started 14 games; helped Alabama reach College Football Playoff national title game
Hot take: According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, Humphrey "boasts an exciting combination of size, straight-line speed and physicality for the position. Possesses a broad-shouldered well-built frame with long arms well-suited to press coverage. Shows balance and provides a pop with his initial jam, showing good extension and body control to harass receivers off the snap."
Rang also noted that Humphrey is "likely limited to perimeter cornerback play, not likely to slide inside in the nickel. Relatively high backpedal and a tight hip rotation, limiting his ability to change direction fluidly and truly mirror receivers' movements."
6. Adoree' Jackson
Southern California, Junior, 5-foot-10, 186 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash:* *4.42 seconds
Vertical jump: 36 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 2 inches
2016 stats: Started all 13 games; recorded 55 total tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss with five interceptions; had seven rushes for 51 yards and two catches for 76 yards and a score; added 20 punt returns for 315 yards and 26 kickoff returns for 767 yards; Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year; First-Team All-Pac-12 selection
Hot take: According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, "the NFL will no doubt be intrigued by Jackson's versatility and pure athleticism. He should be able to make an immediate impact as a returner at the next level and perhaps earn action as a receiver, as well. Jackson's top attribute, of course, is his explosiveness. While lacking preferred size, Jackson sports a compact, athletic frame with good overall weight distribution."
According to Rang, Jackson "has work to do as a cornerback prospect. Due to his soft hands and return ability, Jackson is a legitimate threat on defense but not an unbeatable one. Jackson struggled when matched up with fellow speedsters John Ross from Washington in 2016 and Will Fuller from Notre Dame (now with the Houston Texans) in 2015, frequently biting on underneath routes and being beaten over the top."
7. Tre'Davious White
LSU, Senior, 5-foot-1, 192 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds
Bench press: 16 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 9 feet, 11 inches
Vertical jump: 32 inches
3-cone drill: 6.90 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
2016 stats: started all 12 games he played for LSU and recorded 35 tackles (19 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, one-half sack and 14 passes broken up. The Tigers special teams unit also utilized White, who returned 24 punts for 186 yards, including one for a touchdown
Hot take: According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, White wasn't "the fastest player on the LSU roster, but he has the foot quickness and fluid athleticism to blanket receivers on the outside, using his instincts and ball skills to disrupt the catch point. White will take some unnecessary chances and fall victim to coverage lapses, but his football future is bright."
8. Quincy Wilson
Florida, Junior, 6-foot-1, 211 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench press: 14 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches
Vertical jump: 32 inches
3-cone drill: 6.86 seconds (ninth-best among cornerbacks)
20-yard shuttle: 4.02 seconds (tied for third-best among cornerbacks)
2016 stats: started all 13 games played for Florida as a junior. He recorded 33 tackles (18 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, six passes broken up and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Wilson was one of just two players to start every game during the season for the Gators. He was named Second-Team All-SEC by coaches, the *Associated Press, *Athlon Sports and Gridiron Now.
Hot take: According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Wilson "looks the part with a well-built, long frame. Balanced athlete with the smooth turn-and-run skills to stay within arm length of receivers. Has enough speed to stay on top of wideouts when he correctly anticipates the route."
Brugler also noted Wilson "doesn't play with ideal suddenness for the NFL. Has the initial acceleration to stick with receivers, but his speed trails off. Inconsistent, lazy technique in his pedal, making it easy on savvy receivers to gain separation at the stem."
9.Fabian Moreau**
UCLA, Redshirt senior, 6-foot, 206 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.35 seconds
Broad jump: 11 feet, 4 inches
Vertical jump: 38 inches
3-cone drill: 6.94 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.12 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.45 seconds
2016 stats: started all 12 games; recorded 32 total tackles with a tackle for loss and two interceptions; added a forced fumble and 10 passes defended; Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 selection
Hot take: According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, Moreau "has a tight, low backpedal and a fluid hip-turn to remain in the back pocket of receivers. He plays with a gambler's mentality, occasionally allowing space to receivers only to show a nice burst to break up passes once quarterbacks commit."
Rang also noted that "while a reliable tackler, Moreau must show greater awareness and strength to fight through the blocks of receivers."
10. Jourdan Lewis
Michigan, Senior, 5-foot-10, 188 pounds
Combine numbers
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
Bench press: 15 reps of 225 pounds
Broad jump: 10 feet, 1 inch
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
2016 stats: totaled 25 tackles (18 solo) with 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions and 11 passes defensed; consensus All-American honoree; earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors; finalist for Thorpe Award; Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year
Hot take: According to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Lewis "has the foot quickness and fluidity at the line of scrimmage to flip his body and stay hip-to-hip with receivers vertically. He routinely stays in phase in man coverage due to his balance and instincts as the space between him and receivers seems virtually nonexistent."
Brugler also noted Lewis "might not crack the first round, primarily due to his size limitations, he could wind up being a steal later on day two for a team willing to look past his shorter stature, trusting his intriguing ability to suffocate passing windows."
