Minnesota Vikings 2009 Dream Draft

Ahh, to dream the impossible dream; that would be a good title for a song, or for us Minnesota diehards, a world we will never inhabit. So, with a little wishful thinking, here are my dream choices for the 2009 Minnesota Vikings draft.

Round 1: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC.

Raise your hand if you thought that Matt Ryan was going to be Rookie of the Year? Hang on, now raise your hand if you thought Matt Leinart would be backing up an octogenarian (just kidding) in Kurt Warner?

For every Ryan there is a Leinart, so where will Sanchez fall? I would like to take that bet and believe that he is NFL ready and could start year two, but Leinart looked NFL ready too. I like Sanchez's grit over Leinart's, and he’s not a pretty boy.

What is it with pretty-boy left handers from USC (remember Todd Marinovich)? I think our chances with Sanchez are better than with Booty.

Round 2: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State.

We’ve had pretty good luck with Ohio State guys and this guy looks like a solid player with all the intangibles.

Round 3: Fenuki Tupou, T, Oregon.

The name just sounds good, and it sounds nasty too. At 6’ 6” and 328 pounds, this guy is said to be evenly proportioned, but what Samoan isn’t? He has quickness, strength, and agility, and, in my estimation, will be a steal in the third round.

Round 4: Sage Rosenfels, QB, Iowa State.

We’ll see!

Round 5: Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh.

I am just concerned with our depth at LB. When Henderson got hurt there was a significant drop off and when we had to re-sign players we cut, you knew that was a bad sign. I like our outside with Greenway, Leber, Ciurciu, and Erin Henderson.

The Vikings re-signed Farwell and that was a good move, he is a great, special-teams player. I would like to see what Farwell could do inside, but we still need more depth. You can never have enough LB’s. McKillop would also upgrade a porous and discipline-lacking special teams.

Round 7: Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa.

At 6’1” nearly 200 pounds, Fletcher has good physical tools, and impressed many scouts at the Outback Bowl. NFL.com doesn’t even have him listed, but he is no secret. He would be a nice nickel replacement, or a reserve.

Round 7: John Phillips, TE, Virginia.

When is the last time you saw a Virginia TE disappoint? Minnesota re-signed Kleinsasser, the best blocking TE in football, and Shiancoe is finally paying dividends; but Phillips can do both, maybe not great, but Minnesota needs depth. Mills is the only other TE, and at 6’6” he is a nice big target as a slot guy, middle soft zone kind of guy.

Well, there you have it, my dream draft. Don’t wake me yet, not until April 27, then reality will smack me in the face. I see Minnesota drafting these positions in order of draft round: WR, OL, DB, OL, LB, K.

Coming soon my NFL Mock Draft 09. I would love to hear your feedback.