The Minnesota Vikings have three prospects they grade as equals, and this weekend the staff will intensely evaluate each one. 

According to the the Pioneer Press, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has said he has three particular players in mind. 

Spielman is showing his personnel staff three names to consider for the third overall pick in the NFL draft: Southern California left tackle Matt Kalil, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

The hope is that the team can decide on one of these players by next Wednesday, the day before the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. Spielman claims that there is no favorite yet, but come Monday, that could certainly change. 

With Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III locks to go No. 1 and No. 2, the Vikings have essentially been on the clock for quite some time now. These next few days will be very crucial for the franchise, as Minnesota has to make sure its picking the best overall player. 

Narrowing down the options is a very smart move by Spielman. It allows his staff to put all their attention on just a few guys, hoping that after the weekend they'll realize which star player is the best fit for them. 

Minnesota has a need for all three of those positions, but the consensus among the majority of mock drafts you see around the world wide web is that the Vikings are going to go with Kalil.

That's honestly their best option, especially compared to the other two guys they're currently looking at.

Kalil is the real deal, and he's going to be a stud in the NFL. At 6'7", 306 pounds, Kalil will ensure that young quarterback Christian Ponder remains upright and safe at all times for many years to come.

Don't get me wrong, Blackmon and Claiborne are fine players, but they're not as much as a sure thing as Kalil is. 

It's no secret that the Vikings could use the help in the secondary, as well as giving Ponder a new weapon to work with. However, Kalil rates as the higher prospect, and the offensive line is the biggest need for Minnesota right now. 

The Vikings' quarterbacks were sacked a total of 49 times a year ago, which put them at 28th in the league in sacks allowed. That's an area that needs major improvement, and Kalil will be an impact player for Minnesota from day one. 

If you're a fan of the Vikings, then perhaps you might want to reach out to Spielman or any member of the staff to share your opinion on these three prospects Minnesota is considering. 

It's either that, or sit back and hope the Vikings make the right move by drafting the sure thing.