When the Vikings traded out of the first round of the 2010 draft and picked cornerback Chris Cook with the Lions’ selection near the top of round two, most expected that Cook wouldn’t crack the starting lineup right away, especially with Antoine Winfield owning one spot and Lito Sheppard keeping Cedric Griffin’s place warm.
But Sheppard has been challenged seriously by 2009 third-rounder Asher Allen. Now, Tom Pelissero of 1500espn.com reports that Cook could be climbing over both of them.
The Vikings have moved Cook from the spot behind Winfield into the mix with Sheppard and Allen, and now Cook will have an opportunity in the final two preseason games to steal the starting job.
“I was just being humble and just biding my time, just trying to get on the field anywhere I could,” Cook said Thursday, per Pelissero. “It coming this fast -- I wasn’t really expecting it, because I do have a lot of veterans in front of me. I was using this year for a learning experience. [But] hard work pays off, and I’m in a position right now where I get an opportunity to play with the ones.”
At six-foot-two, Cook has four inches on Sheppard and five on Allen. In a Tampa Two system, where cornerbacks often cover short zones and help extensively with run support, that size difference could give Cook the ultimate edge.