NFL Draft Rumors: Morris Claiborne Chosen over Matt Kalil by Minnesota Vikings?

The Minnesota Vikings own the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft and, ever since they were locked into that spot, they have been penciled-in as selecting USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

It's almost as much of a lock as the Indianapolis Colts taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck or the Washington Redskins picking Baylor's Robert Griffin III, right?

Maybe not.

According to Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press, the Vikings are actually torn on their pick.

General manager Rick Spielman has indicated that there is a chance the team will select LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne instead. 

While this could all be a smokescreen, there is almost no reason for Minnesota to be coy.

The first two picks in the draft are all but set in stone and there are no real candidates for a trade-up into the No. 3 spot, so there is no need for the Vikings to act like they want another player unless it is legitimately true.

While Claiborne is sure to be an excellent pro, passing over Kalil to select him would be a huge mistake. 

The Vikings have a young quarterback in Christian Ponder who they are trying to develop, and considering his lack of experience, bringing in a legitimate blind side protector is incredibly important.

Kalil has the makings of a franchise rock at left tackle and I think that if Andrew Luck had returned to school, the USC product would be the top prospect in this year's draft.

He has everything you could possibly want in an offensive lineman and the Vikings are without a solid left tackle.

Kalil is destined to be a perennial Pro Bowler and could be a franchise mainstay for the next decade along with Ponder. It almost makes too much sense to not happen. 

The Vikings have yet to pursue a cornerback in free agency, which lends credence to the theory that they actually could take Claiborne.

But if they actually pass on Kalil I'd be shocked. He is just too good to let go by.