2012 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7 Round Projections for the Minnesota Vikings

No, the Minnesota Vikings aren't going to get Robert Griffin III in the 2012 NFL draft, but he's still the most important player on their board.

The Indianapolis Colts will start things off at the draft by taking Andrew Luck with the first pick. After that, things will start to get exciting. The St. Louis Rams have the second pick, and what they end up doing with it will have a ripple effect on the rest of the draft. 

As far as the Minnesota Vikings are concerned, they will have to play a wait and see game on draft day. As unclear as draft day can often be, what is clear for Minnesota is that their pick will be reactionary to what happens just ahead of them with the Rams.

I mocked the Vikings seven rounds just a month ago, but in an NFL offseason, a month can be an eternity. Rumors, speculation, mock boards and all-star games have all gone on in the past month and player's stock can rise and fall like anything on NASDAQ.

I mean, in just the last week we've heard that Peyton Manning throws like a girl, Alshon Jeffery weighs close to 300 pounds and Zebrie Sanders couldn't stop your mother from getting to the quarterback.

Of course none of that is true. I don't think.

Away we go with some guesses as to what might happen with the Vikings come draft weekend.

Round 1: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Most mock drafts have the Vikings taking Matt Kalil with the third pick and I happen to agree. However, to change things up a bit for this particular mock, I'm going to pretend the Rams keep the second pick and take Matt Kalil.

Now before you Vikings fans groan your way right out of this slide show, let me ask you this: Would you rather have Matt Kalil, or Riley Reiff and an extra first round pick in 2013?

Crazy? Probably. New Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and new GM Les Snead will get together and decide what the best move is for the team, keeping in mind that Fisher has already declared that protecting quarterback Sam Bradford is priority number one.

That's just draft-speak for not really saying anything. My guess is that the Rams will ultimately end up with Kalil, Justin Blackmon or Reiff. Taking a franchise receiver like Blackmon could be considered protection for Bradford as well. It's just semantics, and Fisher has been at this far too long to know not to tip his hand.

As we move through the combine and closer to the draft I think two things will happen: the teams that covet Robert Griffin III are going to fall even more in love with him than they already are, and teams are also going to decide that the differences between Kalil and Reiff aren't as pronounced as originally thought.

What that means is that the price to trade up to get Griffin is only going to go up. I don't think it's crazy to think a team will swap picks this year, give a number one next year, and a third or fourth rounder as well this year.

So in this version of the Viking's mock, I'm going to dream that the Rams take Kalil and the Vikings are more than happy to trade the third pick to the Redskins for their first pick this year and next year.

Yes, I think that Griffin's stock will go up that high. The problem is, I see no reason why the Rams wouldn't pursue the same option, and as of right now, they hold all the cards with Griffin. 

Also in play: Matt Kalil (obviously), Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne. 

Round 2: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The 2012 NFL draft is stocked deep with cornerbacks. I've been beating the drum for Chase Minnifield out of Virginia at the top of the second round, but I wouldn't be upset at all if the Vikings ended up with Gilmore, the 6'1, 190 pounder who started as a true freshman in the SEC.

Gilmore is a phenomenal athlete, seeing time as a kick returner and he even played some offense for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Gilmore was "Mr. Football" his senior year in high school in South Carolina, as an all-around athlete he played quarterback and led his team to the state championship in 2008. 

Gilmore might lack the toughness that Minnifield would bring, but is probably a better pass defender. 

Also in play: WR, Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (as his stock continues to fall, the Vikings would have to consider him here), CB Chase Minnifield, WR Reuben Randle, NT Dontari Poe (I'd love to list Janoris Jenkins here, but that's just not happening, he'll be long gone.)

Round 3: Reuben Randle, WR, LSU

What's the Vikings biggest area of need? Sadly, that's kind of a question you can't get wrong at this point. In no particular order, the purple are in dire need of overhauls on the offensive line, defensive secondary and wide receiver. 

Many in Minnesota wanted to see a complete overhaul in the front office this offseason, but that didn't happen. It has to be assumed however, that newly anointed GM Rick Spielman is on a pretty short leash. Spielman and his staff simply have to hit several home runs in free agency and the draft to keep their jobs. 

Having said that, one has to assume the Vikings will go out and get a top tier wide receiver in free agency, whether it be Vincent Jackson, Stevie Johnson or Marques Colston. Even with that done, Minnesota will have to add another piece to the receiving corps, and the high end potential of Reuben Randle out of LSU would fit the bill.

At 6'3, 215, Randle would give the Vikings a playmaker on the outside that they've lacked for the last two seasons.

Also in play: Alameda Ta'amu, DT, Washington , Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin, Juron Criner, WR, Arizona

Round 4: Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State

It might be wishful thinking, that Markelle Martin will still be around at the start of the fourth round, but if he is, the Vikings shouldn't hesitate to snap him up. 

Martin is strong against the run and can certainly hang in there against the pass. He lacks supreme speed to stay with deep routes, but can make plays on the ball when in the area. What should make Martin attractive to the Vikings is that he always seemed to play his best in big games for the Cowboys, and playing in the pass-happy Big 12, he's used to seeing a lot of balls in the air.

Also in play: Josh Kaddu, OLB, Oregon, Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana, Senio Kelemete, G, Washington, Tommy Streeter, WR, University of Miami, Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

Round 5: Dwight Bentley, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette

The temptation to go Cliff Harris is pretty strong here, but I'm guessing with their necks on the line, Rick Spielman and company will stay far away from the combustible Harris.

With that in mind, Minnesota would do well to grab perhaps the fastest rising corner on draft boards, Dwight Bentley out of Louisiana-Lafayette.

The 5'10, 180 pounder is a supreme athlete and was one of the most impressive prospects at the Senior Bowl. He had an erratic senior season last fall, but optimistic scouts are saying much of that was that he was simply trying to do too much. 

Bentley had a great week at the Senior Bowl, showing great ball skills and no hesitation at all in mixing it up in the physical side of things.

Also in play: Cliff Harris, CB, Oregon, Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State, Terrrell Manning, OLB, North Carolina State

Round 6: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Ryan Broyles continues to see his stock drop. He's small and relatively slow at 5'10, 188, and he's been injured a lot.

He's also one of the most productive wideouts college football has ever seen and I'd be surprised if he didn't end up being a steal for some NFL team as a day three selection. Broyles might be the epitome of the "don't watch him at the combine, watch him on the football field" kind of guys. 

He'd be an interesting pick for the Vikings, who already have basically the perfect version of Broyles in Percy Harvin, but if we've learned anything in the NFL in the last couple of years, it's that you never have enough playmakers on offense.

Also in play: Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU, Tank Carder, LB, TCU, Rishaw Johnson, G, California, (PA)

Round 7: Desmond Wynn, G, Rutgers

The Vikings need to fix their offensive line in a big way. It's possible Minnesota could have three new starters up front next season, and while hoping to land a starter in the seventh round might be a bit of a stretch, the Vikings can certainly find some depth with their last two picks.

Desmond Wynn of Rutgers is a 6'5, 305 pound giant who runs the 40 in just over five seconds. Wynn started every game in his last two seasons at Rutgers and kept improving both seasons, making second team all Big East in his senior season. Wynn certainly has the frame and the athleticism to continue to improve and has a chance to one day be a viable starter in the NFL.

Also in play: Gerrell Robinson, WR, Arizona State, Matt Daniels, S, Duke, Lamar Holmes, T, Southern Mississippi

Round 7: Charles Brown, CB, North Carolina

Is taking three corners in one draft crazy? Not if you watched the Vikings last year.

At 5'9 and without blazing speed, Brown has a lot going against him as he tries to make an NFL roster, but at a powerful 210 pounds, Brown is a hitter who could be an ideal nickelback who can handle medium to short zone coverage. 

What Brown brings to the table is that he's a tough, reliable football player. A star receiver/defensive back in high school, Brown has a nose for the football and has a chance to develop into an Antoine Winfield type of player.

Also in play: Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, DT, Baylor, Levy Adcock, T, Oklahoma State