Vikings Will Host Safeties Brian Branch, Jordan Howden on Pre-Draft Visits

The Vikings are doing their due diligence on the safety position, though Branch is no ordinary safety.

Add a couple names to the list of prospects the Vikings will host on pre-draft visits this month: Alabama safety Brian Branch and Minnesota safety Jordan Howden.

Branch's visit was reported by NFL insider Aaron Wilson. The Alabama product isn't your average safety; he's a Swiss-army knife defensive back who can line up all over the place and do a bit of everything. Branch broke out last year as a junior, stuffing the stat sheet with seven passes defended, two interceptions, 14 TFL, three sacks, and 90 total tackles.

It feels like Branch, if he falls to the 23rd pick, could be the perfect player for a Brian Flores defense. He's not the biggest or fastest defensive back in the draft, but he's extremely versatile, has a fantastic football IQ, and plays the game with a ton of fire. Simply put, Branch is an outstanding football player. He can tackle, he has ball skills, he can blitz the passer, and he can cover. Branch even returned a punt for a touchdown last season. With the Vikings, he could play slot cornerback and move around as Flores sees fit.

Howden's visit was reported by KSTP insider Darren Wolfson. The former Gophers standout is a different caliber of prospect as a projected early Day 3 pick, but he's a name worth knowing. Across five seasons at Minnesota, Howden recorded 20 passes defended, four interceptions, and 5.5 TFL. He's an excellent athlete (8.84 RAS) and served as a captain for the Gophers last season. 

The Vikings have Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, and Lewis Cine at safety, but they could use additional depth. Why? Smith is 34, Bynum might be best suited as a backup, and Cine's rookie season ended prematurely due to a gruesome leg injury. It makes sense that the Vikings are looking into the position, even if it's not one of their biggest short-term needs.

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