Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft -- Pick #17 by the Minnesota Vikings

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 8:09 AM CDT in 2008 Draft Comment 4 comments

And with the #17 pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select:

Clemson DE Philip Merling

PVChiefsFan with the pick:

Last year the Vikings didn’t have anyone on their roster with more than 5 sacks. They do have a first round pick in Kenechi Udeze, but he was diagnosed with leukemia in February. I considered going with Brian Brohm to compete with Tavaris Jackson, Croyle’s state "rival" from the 2006 draft, who like Croyle, has looked less than stellar. But I think the Vikings will stick with Jackson for one more year, mush as we are doing with Croyle. I also considered Talib because he is the best corner left on the board, but a more effective pass rush will do wonders for the play of Minnesota’s current CB’s. Can you imagine how bad Law and Surtain would have looked if no one on our team sacked the QB more than 5 times all season?

1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling

On the clock: Houston Texans (houstonvince)

Full list of AP mock draft participants

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Comments

In your research

did you find anything about the Vikings taking a WR?

I know they took Sidney Rice last year and he looked good but I didn't know if they were looking for help for Jackson or potentially replacing him down the line.

I like the DE pick. The Williams boys in the middle are very menacing and have done a fantastic job stopping the run. But you're right, the run defense is just a bit different than the pass defense.

by Joel Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I must confess

I know nothing about Merling. Need to bone up on my draft knowledge before the SB Nation mock draft pick for the Chiefs tomorrow.

by Chris Thorman on Mar 31, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also must confess

I didn't know anything about him before I researched this morning.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/rankings/de.html

This has him as the 3rd best DE in the draft, after, of course, Long and Gholston, but interestingly, ahead of Harvey.

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 31, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WR

none of the mock drafts I looked at had the Vikings taking a WR - I found a few Rogers-Cromarties, and actually quite a few with them taking Harvey, but alas, neither were available. I am going on the idea that the Vikings are, like the Chiefs, going for the NYG model. The Vikings are ahead of the Chiefs as far as o-line goes - depending on LJ's return and Peterson's "sophomore slump" we may be equal at RB, we definitely have the edge in receivers (counting the demi-god we have at TE). Both of us have big question marks concerning QB's. They kick our ass in run defense (though we did much better against All Day than the Bolts did) and we kick theirs in pass rushing, so i went with DE.

Actually, they may not be as patient with their QB development as we all think the Chiefs will be, and if Brohm falls them, the Vikings may take him

by PVChiefsfan on Mar 31, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs