2012 NFL Draft: Predicting Minnesota Vikings Full 7-Round Draft

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history. With a 3-13 record, the Vikings will have the privilege to select third in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Much speculation has already been made on who the Vikings will select. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Rams share the same needs and have a draft selection right before them.

Luckily for the Vikings, the 2012 NFL Draft is full of talent and is one of the deepest drafts the NFL has seen in a while—especially at the offensive line and cornerback positions.

With newly hired GM Rick Spielman completely running the show now, expect the Vikings to make the most out of their great draft position in every single round.

First Round: Matt Kalil, LT, USC (4th Pick)

The Cleveland Browns will cave in and trade their fourth and twenty-second pick to the Vikings for their third pick in the draft, along with a fourth round pick. The reasoning behind this is the Rams want their guy in Justin Blackmon. They fear that if they trade down to the fourth pick that the Vikings might snag him.

If Matt Kalil is on the board when the Vikings are making a selection, do not expect for the Vikings to miss their pick like they did in 2003—the Vikings will select him in a heartbeat.

Kalil is a no brainer for the Vikings. Success in football starts from the line play both on the offensive and defensive sides—just look at how far that took the New York Giants this year.

The Vikings have invested too much into Christian Ponder to allow him to get blindsided by defensive ends every other time he steps back for a pass. The holes need to open up as well for the running game—especially with Adrian Peterson coming off of an injury.

One offensive lineman can change the whole offensive line—the Vikings are in desperate need of this. 

Other Selections: CB Morris Claiborne (LSU), WR Justin Blackmon (OSU), LT Riley Reiff (Iowa)

First Round: Janoris Jenkins, CB, South Alabama (22nd Pick)

The Vikings staff was coaching during the Senior Bowl last week and they were able to see watch cornerback Janoris Jenkins show off his talents.

Jenkins has character issues but the Vikings are known to draft players like Jenkins, control their issues and make them stars. 

Unless you were not able to watch a Vikings game in 2011, you should know that the Vikings need a solid cornerback as much as they need a new stadium. The Vikings need help in their secondary because of dynamic wide receivers like Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Calvin Johnson, Titus Young, James Jones and guys like Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler throwing the ball to these receivers in the NFC North.

The Vikings could also use this pick to draft Chase Minnifield from Virginia as well—but only if Jenkins is off the board. Regardless of which cornerback the Vikings select, expect them to be starters for the Vikings on day one and bring in much need assistance against the talented passing attacks in the NFC North and all over the NFL. 

Do not be surprised if the Vikings trade up a little in the first round to snag Janoris Jenkins away from another team in need of a cornerback. 

Second Round: Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina

At 6’4", 225 pounds, this is the Sidney Rice the Vikings have been looking for since his injury in 2010 and departure before the 2011 campaign.

Jones might be a reach at this pick, but it is not like the Vikings have reached for the guy they want before—hello Christian Ponder. Speaking of Ponder, he needs another receiver to throw to other than Percy Harvin. Speaking of Percy Harvin, nothing will benefit Harvin more than a tall wide receiver who demands attention from more than one cornerback—Dwight Jones can be that guy.

In Jones’s senior year he hauled in 85 catches for 1196 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Vikings would love for him to produce like this in the NFL. The Vikings offense would also love to have another threat at WR as well because it benefits the rest of the team. Harvin will be able to stretch the field, Rudolph would get more open looks and teams might stop putting eight and nine in the box for Peterson etc. Jones will have a Sidney Rice like affect on the Vikings—if he stays healthy, unlike Rice who seemed to never be able to stay healthy.

Other Picks: OG Cordy Glenn (Georgia), S Markelle Morris, (OSU)

Third Round: Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State

Morris might be available for the Vikings here, and expect them to draft Morris quicker than they would Kalil if he were available.

Just because the Vikings selected a cornerback in the draft does not mean all of their secondary problems has been solved. The Vikings give up way too many deep plays and nothing will fix that like a hard hitting safety.

Morris is not only a hard hitter but he is also decent in coverage—the Vikings would take anything they can get out of Morris. Morris would bring a lot to the table for the Vikings. Gone will be the days of Greg Jennings and Devin Hester scoring 75-yard touchdowns with Morris deep in the secondary watching over the whole offense.

If Antoine Winfield is moved to the safety position then expect the Vikings to have one of the better secondaries in the NFL with Jenkins, Cook (if he can return), Winfield and Morris.

Other Picks: CB Donnie Fletcher (Boston College)

The Vikings might select another cornerback, especially one they worked with at the Senior Bowl. Expect them to take Morris if he is available and not look back. 

Fifth Round: Tank Carder, LB, TCU

Tank Carder would be a steal for the Vikings here, my guess is that he might be off the board, but with the draft you just never know.

The Vikings linebackers have played decently in the past couple of years. Tank Carder would not immediately take the starting job from Erin Henderson or Everson Griffen, but he will provide in other ways. Carder would add some much needed depth at the linebacker position where the Vikings have known to be thin.

Carder had a tragic accident that almost killed him when he was thrown out of a moving car. He has since been healthy, and hopes to have a successful career in the NFL, one that might be with the Minnesota Vikings.

Other Picks: QB Ryan Lindley (San Diego State), OT Matt Reynolds (BYU)

Sixth Round: Ryan Miller, G, Colorado

The Vikings need a new right guard because Anthony Herrera is not, and has not been cutting it for them.

Miller would provide some decent size. Miller is listed at 6’8" and 315 pounds—that’s one big man.

Miller might not start for the Vikings immediately, but his added depth to a Vikings line that has been much maligned over the past two years would be very beneficial.

Other Picks: DT Hebron Fangupo, (BYU).

Expect the Vikings to address the offensive or defensive line with this pick.

Seventh Round: Gerell Robinson (194th Pick)

Gerell Robinson would be a seventh round steal for the Vikings and he might be one of the most productive out of the late round picks for them. Robinson is listed at 6’3", and could come in handy when the Vikings are in the red zone.

The wide receiver corps for the Vikings is very thin and added depth would be nice. Expect for the Vikings to draft two wide receivers and sign one in free agency to give Ponder all hands help he can get. 

Seventh Round: Randy Bullock, K, Texas A&M

Ryan Longwell is not getting any younger and his leg is not getting any stronger. The Vikings need a new kicker and it might be time to finally select Bullock.

Bullock was the nation’s top kicker in 2011 and he might not be on the board for the Vikings when they use this pick. Either way, expect the Vikings to take a kicker here whether it is Bullock or Danny Hrapmann from Southern Mississippi

Fun Fact: If the Patriots win the Super Bowl than Bullock would be Mr. Irrelevant because of the Randy Moss trade—according to my mock at least.