Minnesota Vikings Draft Prospects: A Look at Saturday

With the 2009 NFL Draft just a few days away, it's time for the draftniks to really kick things into gear.

Fans and football aficionados across the US are gearing up, ready to embrace or curse their favorite team for their decisions on the biggest day of the NFL calendar.

Afterward, pundits will make premature grades on each team's individual draft, claiming some picks were foolhardy, some brilliant. 

For the Minnesota Vikings, draft day decisions come down to the brain trust of head coach Brad Childress and Rick Spielman, the man mainly responsible for the Miami Dolphins' 1-15 season. He did, after all, assemble that squad.

The track record of these two is spotty at best, the selection of Adrian Peterson aside, and every Vikings fan watching the draft will cringe when the 22nd pick rolls around. While I won't get into later rounds, as those are near impossible to predict, I will try here to forecast the players likely available for the Vikes with their pick.

So, without further ado, the top candidates to be the Minnesota Vikings' first-round pick of 2009 (in no particular order).

Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

At 6'6" and 310 pounds, Britton certainly fits the bill for the Vikings' need at RT. He started his college career at RT but moved to LT in 2008.

Britton is fluid in space and possesses good hands, decent footwork, and the ability to move in pass protection. He needs to bulk up a bit, which shouldn't be a problem when he hits the pros, and isn't known as a mauler in run blocking.

The Vikings could use an upgrade over Ryan Cook at RT, and while Britton wouldn't be a flashy pick, he would certainly be able to step in on day one and be a decent starter.

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Harvin is smaller than the ideal WR; rounding out at 5'11" and 195, he's almost "Lilliputian-esque" for a wideout.

But what Harvin lacks in the size department, he more than makes up for in speed. He ran a sub-4.3 40-yard dash at the combine and showed off his speed on the field in the BCS title game, rushing for 121 yards and receiving for 49. And though he wasn't utilized for it in college, most believe he will be an excellent return man in the pros.

There are questions about his character, but he is a dual threat out of the backfield and lined up wide. He could wind up being the most dangerous offensive weapon in the draft.

Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

The consummate possession receiver, Nicks has been soaring up draft boards this offseason. At 6'2" and 210 pounds, he has good size for the position. He also might have the best hands of any receiver in the draft; one only need look up his catch against WVU on YouTube to witness his Velcro-like tendencies.

There are questions about his conditioning and desire (his weight has fluctuated all offseason), but there is no question about his talent. The Michael Irvin comparisons are accurate.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland

Heyward-Bey is not likely to drop all the way to the Vikes, but on draft day, anything is possible.

Teams were wowed at the combine by his speed after he ran a blazing 4.3-flat. Combine that with his 6'3", 205-lb. frame, and Darrius certainly has the physical tools to play in the NFL.

The problem with him is that he played on a subpar offense with a mediocre quarterback in a run-based scheme. This means his route-running skills are unpolished, and his hands and attitude were questionable at times in college. He needs to convince teams that he can play in the NFL. 

Predictions

I truly believe those four above are the players the Vikings are going to be looking at with their first-round pick. There is a possibility Michael Oher from Ole Miss will slide down, and they have Kenny Britt from Rutgers ranked highly, but I doubt either of them will be the selection.

Childress won't go with Heyward-Bey, having been forced to stomach the recoil of Troy Williamson. So that brings us down to three possibilities.

Nicks' weight problems and lack of quality competition in college means he's not likely to be the pick. So will it be the tackle or the receiver?

I'm not sold on Britton; not because of his lack of ability, but more because of Harvin's ability. I'm sure Britton will be a decent RT in the pros, but I'm more sure Harvin will be a nightmare for opposing D-coordinators if he suits up with Adrian Peterson.

The idea of putting Percy and A.D. on the same field together actually makes me partially forget the Vikings' QB situation. I would feel like somebody just sold me beachfront property in Arizona and I discovered oil on it.

Of course, this selection won't happen.

Childress prides himself on finding "high-character" guys. With the news official that Harvin failed his drug test at the Combine, Minnesota is almost certain to put an almighty "red dot" next to Harvin's name. Nothing drops your draft stock faster than smokin' a doob a week before the most important day of your life.

In any case, that leaves us with one option: Eben Britton.

On draft day, we'll be told that Britton will come in to "compete" for the RT spot and "add depth" along the offensive line. I love sports clichés. Britton will ultimately win the starting job and be good yet unspectacular for a while. He'll never make a Pro Bowl and probably never cash in like the big name guys, but he'll be solid. 

Bonus: Second-Round Prediction!

Pat White, QB, WVU