2008 NFL Mock Draft: Minnesota Vikings

Previous Five Picks

12) NFL-Denver_Broncos-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Denver_Broncos-220208">Denver Broncos: Kenny Phillips, S, Miami  

13) NFL-Carolina_<a%20href=">Panthers-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Carolina_Panthers-230208">Carolina Panthers: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

14) Bears-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Chicago_Bears-250208">Chicago Bears: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville 

15) Lions-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Detroit_Lions-280208">Detroit Lions: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas 

16) Cardinals-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Arizona_Cardinals-010308">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
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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