NFL Draft Rumors: Why Minnesota Vikings Should Forget Trading Down from No. 3

The Minnesota Vikings should forget about the idea of trading down from the No. 3 overall spot in the 2012 NFL draft, especially given the fact that USC left tackle Matt Kalil will be waiting for them after the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins select quarterbacks with the first two picks. 

According to Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is open to dealing the team's third overall pick at the draft in three weeks.

"I think those [first two] picks will go relatively quickly. But I’m sure there will be some conversations before that pick if we’re going to (make a trade)," Spielman told Edholm.

With no deal in place at the moment, Spielman acknowledged that any trade would likely be done while the Vikings are on the clock.

"There are times we have been in (the war room) and we’ve done deals on the clock. It’s an unknown, but you’re prepared for both ways," he said. "We’ll be ready and we’ll have a good idea of what we think the value of that third pick is."

While the potential exists for a couple teams, such as the Miami Dolphins, to engage the Vikings in talks for the No. 3 overall pick, Spielman's staff should take the requests on deaf ears.

The Dolphins would likely be looking to move ahead of the Cleveland Browns so they can take Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but a quarterback isn't the real prize at No. 3.

It's Matt Kalil.

The Vikings need Kalil in the worst way after watching their 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder get beat up down the stretch. Sticking Kalil, the draft's unquestioned No. 1 tackle, on the left side of the Vikings line gives Minnesota a much-improved front to keep Ponder upright next season.

And at No. 3 overall, Kalil is a perfect value. If the Vikings moved down too far, like a trade with Dolphins would do (No. 8), the chances of still getting Kalil drop significantly.

Overall, few other prospects in the top 10—outside of maybe LSU cornerback Morris Clairborne—make much sense for the Vikings. But even cornerback is iffy, as Minnesota has made several signings at the position this offseason and may not want to use a top pick there. The team has its young quarterback and shouldn't need a running back despite Adrian Peterson's knee injury last season.

Left tackle, on the other hand, is a huge hole.  

By the time the Vikings are on the clock later this month, Spielman admits his staff will have a better feel about what it wants to do: "I think once we get through our draft meetings and get our board finalized and get the coaches involved, we’ll have a pretty good idea of what we want to do."

For the Vikings' sake, that "idea" should be to draft Kalil at No. 3 overall.