2012 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings Clear to Take Matt Kalil

Prior to this week there was some debate as to what the Minnesota Vikings should do with the No. 3 pick in April’s draft. Some said keep the pick. Draft the best player available. Others said trade it because the pick would bring great return.

But two moves this week should alter that perception: The Vikings released 40 percent of their 2011 offensive line (Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera) and the Washington Redskins acquired the No. 2 pick. 

The Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts are expected to select Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III with the first two picks. 

That means Minnesota should select Matt Kalil. The Southern California offensive tackle is the best value for Minnesota at that spot—and that was before the Redskins moved up to the second spot. 

Sure, Minnesota could have drafted Robert Griffin III at the No. 3 spot, if St. Louis opted to pick Kalil at No. 2, but then it would have had to find a trading partner for Griffin III or get stuck with him. Not sure that would be worth the risk, unless Minnesota ended up with the type of deal St. Louis got for the No. 2 spot. 

But beyond the hypothetical, Kalil is set to be a Viking. 

Although, a report from CBSSports.com on Tuesday would have you believe otherwise.

The report stated that the Vikings are not as enamored with Kalil as they should be. The report suggests the Vikings are very enamored with LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and are considering selecting him over Kalil.

Kalil is their man. He has to be. It's all just a smokescreen. And it makes sense.

Minnesota wants to plant the seed in the heads of executives across the league that their player may not be available when they pick. It benefits the Vikings if the rest of the league doesn’t know who they intend to select.

The mystery makes other teams have to think twice about standing pat and waiting for their player to fall to them for fear that it may not happen. The Vikings want to receive an offer similar to what the St. Louis Rams received for the No. 2 pick.

But it won't happen. And Minnesota will be forced to take a franchise player at No. 3. 

That player better be Kalil. 

At the third pick, there's no margin for error. There's a reason the Vikings are drafting No. 3. They stunk in 2011. If they don't draft well, they'll be on pace to suck again in 2012 (might underwhelm anyways). 

Kalil is the best value. Franchise left tackles protect the blindsides of high-paid quarterbacks. They make the quarterback's life easier. In making the quarterback's life easier they make the lives of the receivers easier and open up holes for the running backs (making their lives easier). 

Yes, a cornerback can be excellent in coverage providing more opportunities for the linebackers and defensive linemen to make plays, but they do not make others around them better the way an offensive lineman can. And given that the Vikings released 40 percent of their 2011 starting line, they need to make a grand gesture to solidify the line for 2012. 

Selecting Matt Kalil would do just that.