NFL Draft Preparation

Well it is that time of year again and the NFL Draft is fast approaching. Everyone and their brother has a mock draft or thinks they know who their favorite team will select. Having said that someone is bound to be right, the next Mel Kiper (god forbid). What is fun about this time of year as a fan though is dreaming and trying to figure out what your team might do.

In 2011 the Minnesota Vikings will be selecting 12th overall in the 1st round. They will have no pick in the 3rd round as they gave that up to satisfy their curiousity of finding out if Randy Moss could still fit into his Vikings uniform. That apparently didn't go well as they quickly shipped him out. The Vikings have a lot of needs after a dissapointing 2010 and a coaching change with a new philosophy. Apparently Coach Frazier is going to look into the phenomenon of winning (not a Charlie Sheen reference).

The Vikings are in desperate need of a franchise QB, in addition probably a veteran QB to mentor him for a couple years. Other needs include solidifying the O-line and maybe a DT, LB, & DB. Depth at other positions could also be improved but Ben Leber is rumored to not be brought back, Pat Williams is having a tizzy and apparently won't be back, Brett Favre not even going there espescially since Coach Frazier made it clear we won't be traveling that road. As for the O-line well that was just a sieve!

Many people have the Vikings dropping down into later in the 1st round to take a DE. While I do see the possibility of dropping down, it is more than likely contingent on how the QB situation plays out and how many teams are in the 1st round market. If it looks like the guy they have targeted could drop, espescially early 2nd round then maybe they drop and take a defensive player later in the first or early 2nd adding a 3rd round pick.

How the CBA plays out between now and then could have a huge impact on the draft as it could alter who is and who is not a free agent. This is definitely a period of uncertainty and while the Vikings have a lot of needs they also appear to have been preparing for this year for awhile based on overall contract situations.

It would be nice to see the Vikings draft a franchise QB early (1st or 2nd). In the 50 year history of the Vikings only 2 QB's have ever been selected in the 1st round, the last Daunte Culpepper in 1999. If it were to happen he could be learning the ropes so he is ready to play in a new Vikings Stadium, assuming a #vikingsstadiumsolution is found and approved by the legislature.

Finally don't forget with the current CBA situation teams have been dumping players and salaries, the market will be flooded like never before. The Vikings are expected to jettison some dead weight as well which will free up even more money. So regardless of how the draft goes, the Vikings figure to be active in free agency.