Previous Five Picks
12) Denver Broncos: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami
13) Carolina Panthers: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami
14) Chicago Bears: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
15) Detroit Lions: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
16) Arizona Cardinals: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida
Click here to see the entire Mock Draft.
The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...
I was recently informed that I’ve graduated from Columnist to Senior Writer here at Bleacher Report.
To celebrate, I cracked open two boxes of vintage Wal-Mart brand wine-in-a-box, lit up a Don Pepin Garcia cigar, and watched Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks 2 in succession.
After much internal debate, I’ve decided to rank the movies in the following order:
1) Mallrats
2) Clerks
3) Dogma
4) Clerks 2
5) Chasing Amy
Today's Must Reads
6) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Kevin Smith might be the greatest creator of fantastic movies in the history of the world.
Pick No. 17: Minnesota Vikings
I need to start by apologizing to Minnesota Vikings fans.
After Week 15, I jumped on the Vikings bandwagon. Like every non-Boston bandwagon I’ve jumped on over the last few years, it came crashing down faster than the George W. Bush stock market.
But even with my derailing their playoff hopes in 2007, the future remains bright in Minnesota because of two words: Adrian Peterson.
Some people have compared Darren McFadden to Peterson. That is an absolute crock and an insult to Adrian Peterson.
It was only one season, and many, many things can happen, but right now Adrian Peterson is already the best running back in the NFL.
If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be one of the best running backs ever.
The Vikings have the makings of a playoff team—they have a great running game and you can’t run the ball against them. Their issue is they have no passing game and no answer for anyone else’s passing game.
On the offensive side of the ball, they’ve tried to address the passing game by adding Bernard Berrian. I’m not a huge fan of this move, especially at $16 million guaranteed. Berrian can get open deep, but his hands are inconsistent.
They still need to address the wide receiver position, preferably by adding a consistent possession receiver type that can compliment Berrian. Someone like Limas Sweed out of Texas.
They also need Tarvaris Jackson to take a step forward as an NFL quarterback. He was very hot and cold last season, which can be expected of a young quarterback. But if the Vikings are going to become a playoff team, he needs to become a more consistent QB.
You can’t win if all you can do is run the ball. Even Peterson can’t run through nine-man fronts consistently. You have to make your opponent respect the pass.
As for the defensive side of the ball, they were tremendous against the run. The issue was stopping the pass.
They had issues getting after opposing quarterbacks last season, which caused their corners to have to hold coverage much longer than should be expected.
Before Kenechi Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia they had a need at defensive end. Now they have a glaring need.
The Pick: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson
Merling is a natural pass rusher who should be able to add another dynamic to the Minnesota defense.
If you can’t get to the quarterback, you can’t win in the NFL.
Just look at how the Giants handled the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Patriots were the greatest offense in the history of the NFL and they were completely dismantled by the Giants’ pass rush.
Imagine what a great pass rush could do against an average NFL offense.
I know a lot of Minnesota fans want to see a wide receiver picked here, but wide receivers take longer to contribute in the NFL, and you can find pretty decent talent in the second and third round.
You don’t get many natural pass rushers who are relentless, powerful, and tough against the run in the later rounds of the draft.
I’m SeanMC.
SeanMC is a Senior Writer at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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6 months ago
Excellent article. I agree with your saying that the Viking's will take a defensive end, but I have a little more confidence in Berrian than you have.
Congratulations on your promotion. :D
6 months ago
Good point, however, we needed a WR and had the $$$ worth the money no, but needed.
An TE is needed (or two). The Vikes can't just chase their tail having Sharper, Williams, Winfield types start retiring and fill their places and always one step short of the complete team. The Vikes have the talent right now (other than QB) to make a run for the gold.
good points.
B2
6 months ago
Good Article and choice for the Vikings. However, it has been reported that the Vikings are looking at Florida DE Derrick Harvey but Merling would be a better choice than Harvey. The Vikings will be drafting a a WR as stated. I do have a question for you. Do you think that the Vikings can play action pass enough to make Bernard Berrian a factor in the teams passing game?
from 6 months ago
Not unless they can add another threat at WR and convince Tarvaris Jackson the he wants to play football EVERY Sunday.
I didn't see that many Vikings games last season, but what I did see looked like their pass rush issues were in part because of the defensive play calls, they had their whole line playing the run and that isn't something they can fix with new personnel.
I think the Vikings need to plus up the offense here with a receiver or bolster the secondary.
6 months ago
Hey Sean-Not sure they need to add a WR at all.....Merling is a good pick though. IMO, Sidney Rice, Berrian, and Aundrae Allison are more than enough to work with, provided TJ gets on track. Rice, in a sense, is that big possession receiver you speak of....he's got some of the best ball skills I have ever seen. I also think Berrian, given the right situation, could be a star.
6 months ago
Congrats on the new title. Couldn't agree more about Adrian Peterson and, as every Minnesota radio show host has pointed out in the last couple of days, we need a DE more than anything right now.
6 months ago
They really need a QB, but no one in this draft is going to offer immediate help;
I like a defensive pick here
this team came on late last year, but ran into Washington - who was hotter
watch out for them this year
6 months ago
good pick, i agree with you about the berrian decision, that is just too much money, they probably could have payed less, congrats on the new title, can't wait till i get to senior writer one day.
6 months ago
what about getting culpepper in free agency. he has to something still left in the tank. if he has an o-line then he should still have a flash. it would be a risk. but would it pay off? would they take the risk?
5 months ago
Sorry But other than blocking a little bit better for the Quarter back, "who doesn't always get rid i the ball on time", Adrian is the best running back in the NFL Know dought! LT is great i agree, but Peterson has much more to offer in the long run. He has More size, power, finess and does way more moves than i've ever seen LT do. Adrian also has a much much quicker burst to the whole than LT. I see them getting AP the ball more in the open feild this year, so stop saying he can't catch and run! He deffinitly deserves that crown! Not to mention he got MVP of the pro bowl as a rookie finising second in pro bowl history! Good luck doing that LT! NOT!!!
5 months ago
Tjack has to go
5 months ago
not worth the read. No insights and restating every obvious conclusion that ESPN can muster. Well done. Now get a real job
4 months ago
The Vikes need a DE who can step up and play... the problem is that it usually takes a player a year or two to find himself in the NFL...
My suggestion is to see who can be had in a trade. I am sure that they can find a team in rebuilding mode who has a top-notch DE who they'd be willing to trade for a mid first round pick. If the Vikes keep the pick I think you still go with the best player available with the exception of RB, because they having needs at every other position, maybe not starting positions but depth positions.
4 months ago
3 de drafted in first round in past 5 years would sound a little lionish, merling and harvey would be on the board still in your mock .why not trade down a few picks then if wasting a first round pick on de you have an extra pick .only 2 good de the vikes have drafted in the first round and there are plenty that have been picked in round 1 . doleman and eller. doleman 4th overall . the position seems to pan out top 5 pick de works out more than it doesnt but middle first round de . are as common as the 3rd and fourth round de panning out. according to one of vics stories at nfl com says that d lineman in rookie year get 4 to 5 big plays . being sacks, solo tackles for loss, forced and/or recovered fumbles , and int . look at what robison did and was a 4th rounder came on well at end of season. are the number 3 and 4 de that much better than de 7,8,or 9? we know 1 and 2 are 2 steps ahead of 3 and 4 but if we wait til round 2 and get one there is the talent drop off that big that we are stuck picking need over value ? merling sports hernia?step in and fill a need those hurt and when leverage through your core is what them beefy guys . push then u get this tazered feeling in your tummy and then the picks a waste.just remember peppers is on last year of his contract.if we want a de we need to make a move with atl. get one of the top 2 de. but thats too much to give up pickwise to move up .the shadow of one mn rookie seems to have overshadowed the others but we have 2 decent to very good wr a de and a lb that was doing well til the injury bug got the ir on him . if anything we might have to go with a left tackle . with the commish cracking whips on naughty players. SKOL vikes
28 days ago
great article.
AP gives the vikes a world of hope, but your right he cant do it all by himself.
jackson really needs to get focused and become an agressive leader this season.
i believe he has what it takes to be a great QB. just give him the benifit of the doubt. he might suprise us this year.
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