According to Chris Tomasson of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, “many observers believe” the Minnesota Vikings plan to exercise the fifth-year option of cornerback Trae Waynes before the May 3rd deadline. Picking up the option means Waynes will be under contract through the 2019 season.

The fifth-year option would cost Minnesota $9.069 million in cap space next season. The option is guaranteed for injury and won’t prevent the player and team from working out a long-term contract extension should there be mutual interest in doing so. The Vikings recently signed linebacker Eric Kendricks to a five-year, $50 million extension.

Waynes, 25, is a former first-round pick (11th overall) of the Vikings in 2015. He’s currently in the final year of a four-year, $12.944 million contract that includes $7.674 million in guaranteed money. His cap number for the 2018 season is $4.118 million.

In 2017, Waynes started all 16 games and recorded 57 tackles, 11 passes defended, one sack and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus handed out a 74.1 grade for Waynes, ranking him as the No. 69 cornerback out of 121 qualifying players.

Minnesota Vikings CB depth:

In all likelihood the team will wait until after the draft to determine whether or not it makes sense to bring back veteran cornerback Terence Newman. It was reported earlier today that the Vikings have roughly $15.73 million in cap space.