Representing the Minnesota Vikings, kcsno56 with the third pick in Arrowhead Pride's 2012 NFL mock draft...
Most think the first three and probably four picks of the 2012 NFL draft are pretty set in stone.
Unless the Colts decide to announce their pick with a cartoon video (hopefully an equally funny cartoon video as Craig's) 99 percent of the league thinks they are picking Andrew Luck. The Redskins, well, they'll take the QB that is left, and again, 99 percent of the league is fairly sure that will be RGIII.
Which brings us to the one question you have to ask yourself when doing a mock draft. Are you putting yourself in the GM's chair and making the pick you would make if put in that position? Or are you projecting/predicting what move that GM would make?
Craig, I'm guessing went with option A, whether because he truly feels deep down that RGIII will be the better QB in the long run...or he simply thought it would bring out more comedy.
Luckily for me, I can wrestle with that philosophical question for the Vikings pick in Round 2 because sometimes the obvious choice is the also right one.
The Minnesota Vikings will be selecting Matt Kalil with the third pick in the 2012 NFL draft. It's the choice GM Rick Spielman will make, and it's the choice I make here on Arrowhead Pride's 2012 NFL mock draft.
Kalil is not only the best player available; he is also the best player at one of, if not the Vikings biggest positions of need.
Existing LT Charlie Johnson (I'm guessing a majority of AP doesn't know this guy) w the worst ranked player on the Vikings OL for the 2011 season, scoring a -12.4 ranking on PFF's grading scale. Now...in comparison to Barry Richardson at -39.1, that score may not look too bad, but Johnson is far from a franchise LT.
Side note 1: I've seen several projections online that expect Johnson to do well at LG, where he will be needed to attempt to replace Steve Hutchinson.
Side Note 2: I know there are some that don't like PFF's grading, but rest assured, Vikings fans think that if anything the line was collectively worse than the grades given out there.
Side Note RGIII: Dude isn't going No. 1, just saying. Don't believe Irsay...he just wants Twitter followers.
Anyway...back to the obvious pick at #3, one thing is clear, Matt Kalil defines franchise LT.
What I appreciate when looking at prospects for the draft is consistency of their rankings. What I mean by that is, I don't particularly want a guy who was considered a third round pick and then had a great Combine or pro-day and then jumped into the first round.
What I want is a guy like Kalil, who has dominant game tape and then backs it up with solid measurables. You haven't seen Kalil's name jumping around the mock draft ‘expert' ratings from 3 to 18 to 10 to 4. Kalil has consistently ranked as a top 5 pick since he announced he was going pro, and the reason is his body of work on the field, not just in the Underwear Olympics.
Oh...he did great there too. He put up the 225 30 times, ran a 4.99 40-yard dash, and scored a collective 94.0 from NFL.com on his Combine workout...which ranked him No. 1 among OL prospects.
He's also 6-foot-6 5/8 and 308 pounds, with 34 5/8 inches arms, and an 80 1/8-inch wingspan...again, all good.
Check out this video from NFL.com for proof.
Again, that's not what really excites me about Kalil, but the key is not only does he have the tape, but he also has the measurables. This isn't one or the other, it's the complete package.
As for the tape I watched of him -- both this year live and then for this mock -- he's near perfect on the field.
Give it a whirl if you like. Here he is vs. Oregon:
You can also check out his Cal tape as well if you're interested.
Good luck finding many flaws in either (yeah, looks like he's downfield on the first play vs. Oregon....keep watching).
Whether or not you believe in Christian Ponder, for the kid to have a chance, a real chance to develop, he's going to need protection, and drafting the most complete LT prospect since Joe Thomas is going to go a long way towards helping his development.
The other ‘talents' I considered at this pick, CB Morris Claiborne and WR Justin Blackmon are both tremendous players, but this is one of those rare times where the actual BPA is also at a great position of need. It's a no-brainer, and unless I'm looking for material for a cartoon...I have to go with the best player.
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