2012 NFL Combine: 7 Players the Vikings Should Consider After the Combine

As the 2012 NFL Combine winds down in Indianapolis, draft boards everywhere are alive with the sounds of players moving up and down. 

Prospective NFL players have run, jumped, lifted weights and answered all sorts of questions in an effort to improve their stock for the coming NFL Draft in April. 

As predicted here on several occasions, the clear "winner" this past week was Robert Griffin III, the Heisman Trophy quarterback out of Baylor. Griffin quelled all concerns about his height, ran faster than anticipated and answered all questions with aplomb. Griffin's stock continues to rise, and everyone who comes in contact with him agrees that he has that X-factor that most superstars have.

While it might be odd that a quarterback who doesn't participate in throwing drills could improve his stock so much, Griffin did everything he had to do to impress, and his stock will only go even higher after he throws at his pro day on March 21 in Waco.

Speculation is already flying that Griffin was so impressive that it might take three first-round picks to trade up with the Rams to have a chance to select the dynamic quarterback.

So what does that mean for the Vikings? 

In the simplest of terms, it means that the Rams will almost assuredly trade out of the two spot to whichever team is willing to break the bank to get Griffin.

This should almost certainly put tackle Matt Kalil in the Vikings' lap with the third pick. 

What other players impressed at the combine? Here are seven prospects that the Vikings should pay even more attention to following the annual stock show in Indianapolis. (We won't discuss defensive backs, who don't work out until Tuesday.)

Matt Kalil, OT, Southern Cal

Not to cry over spilled milk, but what did the Vikings' meaningless win over the Redskins on Christmas Eve ultimately cost them (other than Adrian Peterson's left knee)?

As it turns out, perhaps two first-round picks. Gulp.

The St. Louis Rams are right now basically the rights-holders of Robert Griffin III, and as Griffin continues to impress, quarterback starved teams are going to be willing to make huge offers in order to move up and get him. It's becoming likely that the Browns will swap picks with the Rams and also throw in their 22nd pick in the first round and their first pick in next year's draft to get RGIII.

Look for the Washington Redskins to make a similarly crazy offer, because if you don't think Daniel Snyder and Mike Shanahan aren't dying to make a huge splash with someone like RGIII, you haven't been paying attention.

So no, it's not outlandish to say that the Vikings, had they lost to the Redskins, could have had the second pick, swapped with the Browns, and ended up with Kalil anyway (if the Rams took Justin Blackmon with the third pick), and two additional first-round picks.

Anyway, the Vikings beat the Redskins (yay?), and it's looking more and more like Minnesota will end up with Kalil with the third pick. And as far as spilled milk goes, that's as good as it gets.

Kalil measured out at 6'7", 306 pounds and was the second fastest offensive lineman, running a 4.99 40-yard dash, and did a superb 30 reps in the bench press.

Kalil confirmed all the best hopes for himself at the combine, proving to be a huge, athletic left tackle that can be a franchise fixture for a decade. 

He'll look good in purple.

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dontari Poe might have been the most physically impressive specimen at the combine. In fact, Poe might have "combined" himself right into the middle of the first round.

If Poe is in fact still there at the top of the second round, the Vikings shouldn't hesitate to add him to their defensive line.

Poe put up staggering numbers at the combine: 6'4", 346 pounds, 44 reps in the bench press and a 40 time in the high 4.8s. Those are insane numbers, and if Poe had played at Alabama instead of Memphis, he would probably be a Top Five pick.

There are several defensive tackle types who were ranked a bit higher than Poe before the combine, so it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that he could fall to 35th, but it's now highly doubtful.

It's too bad; he would look really good next to Kevin Williams. On the bright side, the Vikings might have lost their best reason to wait on drafting a cornerback.

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Other than RGIII, no player is leaving the NFL Combine having impressed any more than Stephen Hill, the wide receiver out of Georgia Tech.

Hill has been a puzzle for NFL teams trying to evaluate him. Playing in Georgia Tech's pass-allergic, triple-option offense, Hill caught just 28 passes last season and only had two games where he caught more than three passes.

While he had a jaw-dropping 30 yards per catch, that number goes out the window when you consider that defenses didn't scheme at all to stop the pass when playing the Yellow Jackets.

Hill entered the combine an intriguing prospect, tall and athletic, with a chance to go in the second round and perhaps sneak into the late first round.

No more.

Hill was overwhelming at the combine, measuring out at 6'4", 215 pounds. He ran a blistering 4.36 in the 40 and most importantly ran great routes and caught the ball extremely well.

If Hill happens to be available to the Vikings at the top of the second round, they would have to snap him up and pick up a corner in the third round.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

South Carolina wideout Alshon Jeffery continues to be a draft enigma.

The 6'4" receiver, who entered the 2011 season as a prospective Top 10 pick, had watched his draft stock fall after a less than stellar season and rumors of a large weight gain after playing last year at around 230 pounds.

Jeffery weighed in at 216 pounds, but didn't work out. Huh.

Jeffery obviously heard the rumors of his weight gain and did something about it, but who knows what the crash diet might have done to him strength-wise?

The Vikings, and probably every other team in the league, will show up for Jeffery's pro day to see him run and catch balls and see where his weight might be in late March.

All things considered, Jeffery has to be on the Vikings' radar for the top of the second round, and his pro day will be one of the most anticipated in the next month.

Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

At 6'4", 315 pounds, guard Kevin Zeitler of Wisconsin has to be on the Vikings' radar as a third-round option.

Obviously, what the Vikings do in the draft will be dependent on what happens in free agency. If Minnesota picks up an elite receiver or cornerback in free agency, they might consider grabbing Zeitler if he's available at the top of the third round.

Although Zeitler was on the slow side running the 40 at 5.39, he was much better in the shuttle run, posting a 4.61, one of the fastest times for an offensive lineman. The shuttle run shows quickness and burst, and Zeitler also posted an impressive 32 reps in the bench press.

Zeitler would be an immediate upgrade at right guard for the Vikings, and adding him and Kalil would go a long way towards setting up a new offensive line for Christian Ponder.

Tommy Streeter, WR, University of Miami

Tommy Streeter, the 6'5", 219-pound receiver out of the University of Miami, entered the NFL Combine as one of the most intriguing prospects heading into April's draft.

Things just got a lot more intriguing.

Streeter posted a much faster than expected 4.40 in the 40, the sixth fastest time among all receivers. That speed combined with that height and athletic ability makes Streeter even more tantalizing than he already was.

Streeter was a late bloomer at Miami, but had a phenomenal second half of last year. He truly enters the draft as a kid who we'll all look back on in five years and say, "How the heck did he last until the third round?" 

Streeter remains a bit raw, and if the Vikings bring him in they can't expect him to start right away. He'd be a great guy to have as a third or fourth receiver who could turn himself into a No. 1 option down the road.

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

LaMichael James might have done himself as much good at the combine as anyone in Indianapolis.

Once thought of as an undersized back who wouldn't be able to handle the load in the NFL, James proved otherwise at the combine, looking very solid at 5'9", 194 pounds.

James looked supremely athletic, running a 4.37 in the 40 and cutting effortlessly without having to slow down at all. James looked very natural catching the ball and proved that he could be a very versatile back in the NFL, much like Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush.

While it might be a long shot for the Vikings to spend a high pick on a running back with Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart already in their stable, they should think long and hard about taking James if the opportunity presents itself.