ESPN's Kevin Seifert posted about the Vikings current draft position today. If you believe the Vikings could lose their remaining four games, and many people do (although the season finale against Chicago could be interesting if Caleb Hanie is the Bears quarterback), that puts them in prime position to draft no lower than third overall.
And if you also believe the Indianapolis Colts are going to finish with the league's worst record and will pick Standford QB Andrew Luck first overall, the Vikings are in prime position to grab the top-rated player at any of the three positions where they have the greatest needs – left tackle, cornerback and wide receiver.
I've been thinking all season that the Vikings need to take a left tackle with their first round pick this April, but Judd Zulgad's piece today about cornerback Cedric Griffin's plight makes me think the team might want to grab a top cornerback like LSU's Morris Claiborne instead.
Although Zulgad lays it out pretty well in the piece I've linked to above, it's clear the Vikings cornerback situation is in a shambles. The team certainly isn't going to keep Griffin around at his current salary and production. Antoine Winfield can still play, but staying healthy for a full season is a major concern at his age. We don't know what plans the Vikings, the NFL or the legal system have for troubled Chris Cook. Also, everything I've ever read about and seen with my own eyes in regards to Asher Allen screams dime player.
The Vikings can get by with their defensive line right now, which is actually a pretty decent unit. The linebackers, especially Chad Greenway, can't be as bad as they've looked the past few weeks. But in a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Jay Cutler starting at quarterback and receivers like Greg Jennings (beast), Calvin Johnson (beast-and-a-half) and even guys like Earl Bennett, Jordy Nelson and Nate Burleson, you can't beat your divisional foes when your corners are either a) old b) replacement level or c) on trial.
So forget left tackle for now (maybe draft one in round two), the Vikings need a cornerback. Or three.
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2 comments:
Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder are the face of the franchise. The Vikings need to protect them. This position has been neglected for way too long. Cornerback in the second round.
Anon:
All true. But it just seems in the division the Vikings are in, cornerback is more a priority than left tackle. But the Vikings can't go wrong either way. They need both. Although now I woulnd't cry if they drafted corners in rounds one and two.
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