The Minnesota Vikings are pretty much in rebuilding mode, and what better day to rebuild for the future than NFL Draft day 2012? Let’s look at who they might take.
3. Minnesota Vikings, Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Min team needs: WR, OT, DT, FS
This past season there was a big disparity between the Vikes and the rest of their division. They have plenty of needs on both sides of the ball, but I’m finally sold on Christian Ponder as the new future QB. His numbers are ugly, but I believe he as the tools. Time to get him a real weapon to work with. The departure of Sidney Rice hurt the team badly; maybe this will fix that hole.
Go here for more on the Vikings draft
Blackmon’s size and agility make him able to stretch out and corral any balls thrown anywhere near his vicinity.
Coming out of Plainview High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma, he was ranked a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, and the#91 wide receiver prospect in the class of 2008. Yet today, three years later, he’s the only true franchise WR in this class.
For more on Blackmon go here
35. Minnesota Vikings, Mike Martin, DT, Michigan Wolverines
Had a great combine. Martin, was described by his coach, UM Brady Hoke: “He’s been blessed with a first step and quickness, he’s not shy. He’ll be physical and so I think he’s got great leverage, can bend and has explosion.”
Martin really looks up to Suh “I watch film on him quite a bit, his motor, that’s really important for defensive linemen and he’s the best at what he does,” Martin said.
He even worked at Suh’s camp.
“That was a lot of fun, the way I got connected to that is through a friend of his, and I met his sister and we talked over Twitter and email, she told me to show up to the camp, help out, and then Ndamukong and I talked after, he said he’s coming to the Nebraska game at Ann Arbor, so there was a little fun smack talk there. And he gave me a few pointers and tips; which is nice,” Martin said about the experience.
Being at UM, which is just outside of Detroit gives Martin a chance to watch Suh regularly; and numerous chances to further model his game after him.
Go here for more on Martin
For the entire first round of this mock draft go here.
For the entire second round go here
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
A Fulbright scholar and MBA, Banks has appeared on live radio all over the world; and he’s a member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and Society of Professional Journalists. The President of the United States follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB) You should too.