Minnesota Vikings: 10 Players the Vikings Should Target in the Draft

For the Minnesota Vikings, the 2012 NFL draft could be the most important in team history. This team owns the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, but another last place finish in the NFC North could start pushing this team to irrelevance. 

The good news is that with so many needs on both sides of the ball, it is almost impossible for the Vikings not to improve their roster.

The Vikings will have at least nine picks in the 2012 draft, plus potentially one or two compensatory picks.

While they lose their sixth-round pick to Washington as part of the Donovan McNabb trade, they gain Cleveland's sixth-round pick from the trade of defensive end Jayme Mitchell.

They also receive the Giants seventh-round pick as part of the Sage Rosenfels for Darius Reynaud trade. They also have New England's seventh-round choice as a remnant of the Randy Moss deal. It figures these extra selections would belong to the Super Bowl participants.

The Vikings are in the running for potential compensatory picks for Ray Edwards, Sidney Rice and/or Tarvaris Jackson. These would most likely end up being sixth- or seventh-round selections.

What the Vikings do with their third pick will depend a lot on who the St. Louis Rams select with the second selection. The overwhelming opinion of 243 mock drafts has the Rams selecting USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil, if that happens the Vikings might look to trade down and acquire another draft pick. There is also a report from The Sporting News that the Rams could be looking to trade the second pick to the right suitor willing to kick in a substantial draft pick in the swap.

Whoever the Vikings select in the first round will be projected as a starter, and an upgrade for the team. After that it will be about selecting the best player available (BPA), or drafting for need—and in either case the Vikings will be right.

The Vikings should look to help the offense first by bolstering the offensive line and looking to add some receivers first, then address the defense selecting a defensive back and then a linebacker and possibly a defensive tackle.

Here are 10 players the Vikings should target in the 2012 draft.

With the Third Pick of the Draft the Minnesota Vikings Select...

After the Colts select Standford quarterback Andrew Luck, things could get very interesting. 

The Rams and Vikings both have young quarterbacks that could potentially be the franchise quarterback they desperately need, it's just a matter of putting some talent around them. 

If the Rams move down to allow another team to select Robert Griffin III, the Vikings need to select USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

Kalil could be the cornerstone to protect Christian Ponder's blind side for a decade.

If the Rams decide to keep their pick and they select Kalil, the Vikings could still make an selection with some impact.

If Not Matt Kalil, Then Wide Receiver Justin Blackmon

I see the most likely scenario if the St. Louis Rams select USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil would be to trade down, swapping the third pick to a team desperately wanting quarterback Robert Griffin III.

If that happens, depending on who they swap with, the Vikings might still be able to pick the top wide receiver in the draft, Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State.

In 2011 Blackmon had 113 catches for 1.226 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

He would immediately step in and provide another big-play receiver for Christian Ponder.

2nd Round: Offensive Guard Cordy Glenn from Georgia

After addressing the need at left tackle, the Vikings should look for a replacement for guard Steve Hutchinson, assuming the Vikings draft USC tackle Matt Kalil.

The Vikings coaching staff will get an up close look at guard Cordy Glenn from Georgia.

Glenn is participating as a member of the South team the Vikings face in the Senior Bowl. 

Projected to be a late first round or early second round pick, at 6'5" and 348 pounds, Glenn has the size to step in and make an immediate impact for the Vikings.

If Glenn is not available, the Vikings should then target their next most pressing need on offense—wide receiver.

2nd Round: Wide Receiver Dwight Jones from North Carolina

There's a lot of "ifs" in this selection.

If the Vikings get their first choice with the third pick, they will still need to draft a receiver.

If Georgia guard Cordy Glenn has been selected, the Vikings should target North Carolina wide receiver Dwight Jones. In 2011 he had 79 receptions for 1,119 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Like Glenn, Jone will be a member of the South squad in the Senior Bowl.

At 6'4" Jones has the size to be the outside target that the Vikings lost in Sidney Rice. 

Now a look at helping the defense.

3rd Round: Cornerback Donnie Flectcher from Boston College

Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and new defensive coordinator Alan Williams will have all this week at the Senior Bowl to evaluate cornerback Donnie Fletcher from Boston College.

While the 6'1" Fletcher only had two interception this past season, it matches the team lead for the Vikings, and he did it in only 12 games.

There would be no expectation for Fletcher to step into a starting role, especially if the Vikings get a healthy Antoine Winfield back and if Chris Cook is acquitted of the domestic violence charges and cleans up his act.

It shouldn't be tough to upgrade over Asher Allen, Benny Sapp and Marcus Sherels in the defensive backfield.

Things get a whole lot tougher as we get deeper in the draft.

4th Round: Linebacker Audie Cole, North Carolina State

The Minnesota Vikings could be looking for two new starting linebackers in 2012. 

Both Erin and E.J. Henderson are free agents, and with E.J. at 32 years old, it is unlikely the Vikings will re-sign him. Jasper Brinkley, who missed all of the 2011 season after having hip surgery, is penciled in at middle linebacker to replace him.

While it might be a stretch to find an immediate starter this deep in the draft, there is still a need for some depth.

Audie Cole from North Carolina State will have plenty of opportunity to impress the Minnesota coaching staff as a member for the North team for the Senior Bowl.

This past season the inside linebacker had 98 tackles, 3.5 sacks and four forced fumbles for the Wolfpack.

If the Vikings draft Cole, he would be a great candidate to make the team as special teams player.

5th Round: Nose Tackle Hebron Fangupo from ByU

The Minnesota Vikings appear to be strong on the defensive line—at least at the defensive end position.

As for the interior of the line, they could use some depth.

After transferring from USC, nose tackle Hebron Fangupo played only one at BYU, recording only 23 tackles.

Still, it was more than the four tackles and 10 assists that Remi Ayodele was credited for the Vikings in 2011.

At 6'1" and 331 pounds, Fangupo is a little smaller than Ayodele and would mostly likely be a candidate for the practice squad, as he needs to bulk up.

6th Round: Outside Linebacker Mychal Kendriks from California

As a late-round selection, linebacker Mychal Kendricks would most likely be fodder for the special teams.

The 6'0", 240-pound linebacker had a total of 106 tackles for the Golden Bears last season with three sacks and two interceptions.

7th Round: Safety, George Iloka from Boise State

Boise State safety George Iloka finished second on the team with 58 tackles.

Over his four seasons, he had seven interceptions, and unfortunately four of them were in his freshman year, with none as a senior. 

At 6'3" and 207 pounds he has the size the Vikings could use in their defensive backfield, but at best he would be a special teams player or practice squad candidate. 

A Shot at Selecting Mr. Irrevelant

With the deals the Vikings made with New England and the Giants, acquiring their seventh-round picks in the 2012 draft, the Vikings have a very good chance at making the last selection of the draft—depending on any compensatory picks that may be added to the end.

There could be a Pro Bowl player just waiting to be found, after all the Vikings all-time leader in sacks, defensive tackle John Randle, wasn't even drafted.

Perhaps someone like Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell will be available for the Vikings.

The 5'11", 205-pound Mitchell had 95 tackles for the Bulldogs this past season.