This is where the draft will start to really get fun.
There is no surprise that the Colts selected Andrew Luck and the Redskins chose Robert Griffin III with the first two picks of our fan mock draft. That is exactly how the script is supposed to play out on Thursday, April 26.
The Minnesota Vikings hold the No. 3 pick. They are not expected to draft a quarterback. They used a first-round pick a year ago on Christian Ponder, who became the starter by midseason. Earlier this offseason, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman assured Ponder the team would not draft a quarterback, but backtracked on those comments likely to pique the interest of teams in search of a quarterback.
Assuming the Vikings don't go quarterback, the Vikings could enhance the protection of their quarterback by taking the top left tackle prospect in the draft in USC's Matt Kalil.
The Vikings might want to add to their arsenal on offense to help Ponder. They could select Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon or Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. They could add to the ground game. Yes, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson, but he is recovering from a torn ACL. Alabama's Trent Richardson has been deemed the best running back prospect since Peterson by draft experts.
The 3-13 Vikings ranked next-to-last just a year ago in points allowed on defense. LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne would instantly help a secondary that allowed a league-worst 34 passing touchdowns last season. The Vikings also blew a number of double-digit second-half leads in 2011.
The Vikings have the NFL's sack leader from 2011 in Jared Allen, who had 22.0 sacks. Allen is 30 and the Vikings might want to invest in a future playmaker along the defensive line with either North Carolina's Quinton Coples or Clemson's Melvin Ingram at defensive end or possibly an interior lineman with either Fletcher Cox or Dontari Poe.
The choice is yours.
Previous Picks
1. Indianapolis – QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Washington – QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
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