Today’s date
is Tuesday April 2nd meaning 23 days until the NFL draft. The number
23 has 2 meanings one which I just mentioned the amount of days which is 23
until the draft and that is also the number the Vikings are picking with their
first pick in the first round.
The first
round is intriguing, as I ask what are the Vikings going to do in the first
round. Do they package one of the two first round picks along with another pick
lower in the draft to move up the board?
What is the
area the team choses to go with the first pick? Jasper Brinkley left via free
agency. Do they pick a linebacker at this spot whether it is 23 or higher or do
they go after a receiver?
Does the
Greg Jennings signing make the team want to focus on a new middle linebacker in
the first round?
The loss of
Percy Harvin leaves another question. If the team does not go after a
linebacker do they go after a receiver in the draft that has the skills to be a
return man along with being a receiver?
I looked at
both wide receiver and linebackers that seem to be in the top 10 in each
position. The wide receiver has the names Tavon Austin (5’8” 174 pounds)
Cordarrelle Patterson (6’2” 210 pounds), Keenan Allen (6’2” 206 pounds)
Terrance Williams (6’2” 208 pounds) and Robert Woods (6’ and 201 pounds)
I would love
the choice of Tavon Austin if the team wants to go return man and receiver or
Robert Woods if the team just wants to stay using him as a receiver.
The
linebacker corps I see Arthur Brown (6 and 241 pounds), Manti Te’o (6”1” and
241), Alec Ogletree (6’2” and 242) and finally Kevin Minter (6’ and 246) Ogletree played at Georgia and Minter at LSU
in college. The SEC puts out top notch NFL players so I would welcome either
one of these young men to Minnesota.
The Vikings
have 11 draft picks:
1st
round- 23 and 25
2nd
round- 20 (52 overall)
3rd
round- 21 (83 overall)
4th
round- 5 (99 overall) and 23 (117 overall)
5th
round- 22 (148 overall)
6th
round- 21 (179 overall)
7th
round- 7 (213 overall) 23 (229) and 25 (231)
The team is
building with youth so my next thought is in regard to the 2012 draft class.
Matt Kalil ended up in the Pro Bowl so what will year 2 be like with players
knowing how to play against him with lots of film to look at.
Harrison
Smith played out of his mind last season. The question is will he have respect
from the opposition and throw away from his side?
Blair Walsh
had a record year so can he keep it up in being the long time Vikings kicker?
Will Audie
Cole be part of the plan for linebacker duty or will he stay special teams? Do
you remember last preseason watching this young man return two picks for
touchdowns in the same game?
How will
Josh Robinson fair in year two as a potential starting cornerback? In the 2012
draft he had the fastest time at the combine in Indianapolis. Is he the man who
will return kicks with this speed?
Robert
Blanton got some time at special teams last season. Will he stay there and
challenge for a nickel position? The result would be more playing time.
Rhett
Ellison had a great year with blocking and a few catches. Will the team use him
more in routes or keep him more for blocking for AP?
Jarius
Wright showed his explosiveness last season. What is the plan for him? I see
slot and lots of special teams in is future.
Greg Childs
comes in as the biggest question. How does he come back from his serious injury
last training camp? If he can make it back he is a big kid who could be a huge
plus. I would love to see another red zone target.
There is
plenty to be excited about. The team is coming off a playoff year. Can the team
have another successful draft in 2013 and make another playoff run?
Thanks for
reading
Purplestick
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