Mock Madness 2.0

Mock Madness 1.0
Mock Madness 2.0
Mock Madness 3.0
Mock Madness 4.0
Mock Madness 5.0

Last week vikings.com fed off of college basketball’s March Madness by creating a weekly feature titled “Mock Madness” that will track the draft opinions of several well-respected prognosticators on a weekly basis.

The NFL draft will occur in late April and only then will we find out the next generation of Vikings players. But until then we have the mystery of who the Purple will select and the chance to take a guess at who that selection will be.

Who will be there for the Vikings at pick #17? Will Minnesota select an offensive player or will they instead choose to fortify their defense?

While no one can provide a concrete answer to those questions just yet, everyone can certainly take a guess. And instead of spending an endless amount of time searching the internet for ideas on what will be available when the Vikings are on the clock, you can check vikings.com each week to get an update on what everyone is projecting.

Carucci projects Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey will be the pick at #17 for the Vikings, citing a team need at defensive end to bolster the pass rush and pass defense. At 6-5, 271 pounds, Harvey is an imposing force and is an athletic specimen capable of pushing the edge and pressuring the quarterback.

ESPN.com – Mel Kiper, Jr.

ESPN’s draft expert also sees the Vikings addressing defensive end in the first round. However, Kiper chooses a different player from the state of Florida to fill the need – Miami’s Calais Campbell. The 6-8, 282-pound lineman figures to be solid against the run as well as the pass, and he would immediately upgrade the Vikings depth at defensive end.

ESPN.com – Todd McShay

McShay, who analyzes the draft for Scouts, Inc. and ESPN, projects Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling as the Purple’s pick at #17. Perhaps it was the signing of Bernard Berrian that caused McShay to switch the Vikings pick from receiver Limas Sweed to Merling. McShay says “Merling has an outstanding combination of size, quickness and power, which would make him a good fit in a rotation that includes Ray Edwards and Brian Robison.

Scout.com – Chris Steuber

Scout.com’s Steuber concurs with McShay this week and sees Merling landing with the Vikings in the first round. Last week Steuber had Campbell going to the Vikings but now he sees Gaines Adams’ former teammate going to Minnesota. Steuber says the 6-4, 270-pound Merling is “one of the best all around DEs in the draft and is a perfect fit for the Vikings.”

NFLDraftInsiders.com – Frank Coyle

A new player appears on the list as Coyle sees offensive tackle Chris Williams going to the Vikings at #17. Coyle says the offensive tackle pool is deep this year and the Vikings could dip into it early.

Sports Illustrated’s Banks once again offers a unique opinion, suggesting the Vikings will select former Texas receiver Limas Sweed. Last week, Banks predicted the Viking would take a second former Oklahoma Sooner in the first round and make Malcolm Kelly the 17^th overall selection. Sweed is 6-4 and 215 pounds with sure hands. He would improve the Vikings receiving corps, and, like Sweed, would provide the Vikings offense with a reliable, big target in the red zone.