On Monday, the Vikings made an easy call. The fifth-year option for cornerback Trae Waynes has been exercised, according to a team announcement.
As the No. 11 pick in the 2015 draft, Waynes will earn $9.069MM in 2019. As shown on PFR’s Fifth-Year Option Tracker, many of the first-round picks from that class have already had the extra season tacked on to their contracts. Teams have until Thursday to make determinations on the remaining players.
Waynes started in all 16 games for the first time in his career last year. He tallied 65 total tackles, two interceptions, eleven passes defensed, and his first career sack.
Waynes will return as the team’s CB2 alongside First-Team All-Pro Xavier Rhodes. The Vikings will also get cornerback Mike Hughes involved after selecting the UCF product with a late first-round choice.
The bar is set high in Minnesota after the team finished out as the league’s No. 1 defense in 2017, but the unit looks as fierce as ever thanks to the addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.