Don't Forget About Cam Bynum

 

With the selection of Lewis Cine in the 1st round of last weeks' NFL draft, the Vikings have two hard nosed and big hitting safeties in the back end of their defense. Harrison Smith is on the verge of being 34 years, so it made sense that the Vikings were eyeing a replacement for Smith. Cine will be able to learn a lot from the grizzled veteran. But don't look passed Viking's second year safety Camryn Bynum. The Cal product appeared in a handful of games for Minnesota last season, and produced at a very high level. Bynum was one of the top graded players on the Vikings in the games he participated in. He had a diving interception on Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, and in general showed his smarts and ability when given the chance. He will continue to provide playing time for the Vikings in 2022.

Bynum is very versatile. He was originally a cornerback in college but made the transition to safety once he was drafted, and it has been a super smooth transition. Coming out of school, Bynum was praised for his smarts and overall football IQ, and it has been on display since coming into the league. Ed Donatell is going to be able to use Bynum in multiple different ways. The Vikings will have the ability to use three safeties on the football field, and use them to disguise their scheme. This will cause a lot of issues for the opposing offense. Imagine Smith, Cine, and Bynum all over the field confusing the opponent. It'll be fun to watch Donatell and this coaching staff use them in a variety of ways. 

The Future

It's a little sad to think, but Harrison Smith is on the back end of his playing career. Smith has a Hall of Fame resume and has been a blast to watch make plays on this defense for the past decade. But he's 34 years old, and it's only a matter of time before his play starts to decline. Cine and Bynum learning from Smith is a huge advantage, because he can show them the reigns on what it takes to lead a successful defense. Smith is owed a solid chunk of money next offseason, and if the Vikings feel comfortable moving forward with Cine and Bynum, the future could be near.