NFL Draft Projections: USC OT Matt Kalil Favored to Be Selected Third Overall

The Minnesota Vikings currently possess the third overall pick in Thursday night's 2012 NFL draft, with many believing that they will use that pick to select USC Trojans offensive lineman Matt Kalil.

Bovada sports book currently has Kalil as the minus-250 betting favorite to be taken in this spot by any team in the draft. However, Matt Miller's final mock suggests that value may be found in other players.

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is the second choice in the betting market at odds of plus-120. Miller suggests that the Vikings would be best suited to take a defensive player due to the current grouping of quarterbacks in the NFC North division.

I'm definitely a believer in that scenario due to the Vikings' pass defense ranking 26th in the league last year, allowing 251.2 yards per game.

Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Justin Blackmon (plus-500) and Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Riley Reiff (plus-1200) are the other two options in the betting market for this proposition offering.

Blackmon is really the only logical candidate to land here out of that duo, especially with Kalil being rated just behind Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III in almost every big board out there. 

After an unsurprising first two picks in the draft, I'm expecting a mild surprise in this spot, with Claiborne definitely offering some value at his current number.