2011 NFL Mock Draft: Weekly Mock Draft Roundup

With just over a month to go until the real, actual draft, we have a couple of new mock drafts available for you to peruse.  Why?  Because nothing says love like hypothetical 'what ifs' more than 30 days from an actual event.

The first one we have for you today is a Scott Wright joint over at nfldraftcountdown.com.  He's got a very in-depth site, with a two round mock that was posted the afternoon of the 21st, just a little while after our last update.

Quarterbacks are off the board early and often according to Wright, and this is probably the biggest area of interest for the Vikings in the draft.  At least, that's what the head coach said.  He has Blaine Gabbert going number one overall, which I haven't seen before now, and Cam Newton going at 4 to Cincinnati.  So with what he considers the top two draftable QB's off the board, he projects the Vikes to select North Carolina DE Robert Quinn.  This isn't the first mock where I've seen the Vikings taking Quinn, and I don't know that I'm comfortable with the Vikings taking a guy that didn't play in 2010.  I don't disagree that DE is also a pressing need, especially if Ray Edwards leaves via free agency, but if a JJ Watt is still on the board, I'd like to see the Vikings go in that direction.  Or maybe an offensive lineman.  I think Quinn or a guy like Da'Quan Bowers is an awful big risk at #12.

But I will say Wright makes up for it in round two by projecting American Patriot and Iowa QB Ricki Stanzi to the Vikings.  I have to say, Stanzi has slowly but surely been building momentum in draft circles, and after watching him play quite a bit in his collegiate career I wouldn't be disappointed to see him play for the Vikings.  With all the other quarterbacks taking up all the pre-draft talk, there's a very good chance that Stanzi will be available for the taking.

Over at the site Walter Football, they have done a 6 round mock, which is impressive, and speaking of Bowers, they see the Clemson DE projecting to Minnesota in round one.  Um, thanks but no thanks.  They also have Gabbert gone at number 1 overall, and Newton gone at #3 to Buffalo.  Again, I can buy the need at DE, but if Watt is gone, (which might be the case as his name is picking up steam as well), Missouri DE Aldon Smith might be the better option.  Bowers has knee issues and has really only had one good year, and Smith has been the more consistent player.

Much like NFL Draft Countdown, they have a 'wow' pick in round two as they see Jake Locker falling to the Vikings.  I don't know if he will be there that deep in the draft, but if he is Locker makes a lot of sense there.

In round four, they see LSU WR Terrance Toliver becoming a Viking, in round five Stanford DB Richard Sherman and Florida Atlantic TE Rob Housler, and round six Nebraska S Eric Hagg.  The Housler pick/projection is the fifth rounder the Vikings received from the Giants for the Sage Rosenfels trade.

I'm kind of surprised that an offensive lineman was not projected, and come the actual draft I would be surprised if the Vikings haven't selected one.

Two of the guys over at FF Toolbox have updated their mock drafts for 2011, and they both see the Minnesota Vikings taking a quarterback.

Ricky Dimon has the Vikings selecting icon in waiting Cam Newton, and Jeff Christiansen has Minnesota taking Washington QB Jake Locker.  Dimon's mock is a two rounder, and in the second round he has the purple and gold selecting LSU DT Drake Nevis. 

The Vikings have a need at both QB and DT, and I think we can all agree that QB is the pressing concern, at least long term.  Barring any miracle of a labor deal, there will be no trades prior to the draft, so it looks like the Vikings will need to look at QB in the first round.  I'm not a big fan of taking a QB that early, but with the unusual circumstances that this year finds the Vikings in, it's appropriate to look at getting a QB first, and see how it turns out.

With Kevin Williams maybe or maybe not dropping his legal fight, and Pat Williams more than likely not coming back, defensive line is also a position of concern, so DT isn't too far fetched.  You can make an argument that safety is a bigger position of need, but if the best player available is a defensive tackle, you go in that direction.

You can check out the entire mock draft right here.

Todd McShay of ESPN has expanded his mock draft to two rounds, and in his picks for the Vikings, he manages to get it half right, in my opinion. (Sorry, you can't see the link unless you're an E$PN In$ider.)

At pick number 12, he has the Vikings selecting an offensive lineman. This time, it's Anthony Castonzo out of Boston College. Here is McShay's explanation behind the pick.

The Vikings are said to be interested in Washington QB Jake Locker and even worked Locker out recently, but he's a reach here, and if Minnesota is that enamored with him the better play would be to trade back and try to get him later while also gaining an extra draft pick. If the Vikings stay put, Castonzo is the best option. I like Nate Solder's upside more but Catonzo should be ready to contribute right away and play on either side. Bringing him in would allow Minnesota to move Bryant McKinnie to right tackle and slide Phil Loadholt inside to guard.

Now, this is the first I've heard about the Vikings moving McKinnie to right tackle and Loadholt to right guard, and I'm still not sure how well Loadholt's skill set transfers to the inside, but man. . .that would be one massive right side of the offensive line if it were to happen. That's the only possible scenario where I would see an offensive tackle this high making sense, but I'm still not sure about it. In his scenario, McShay has Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara going to the Detroit Lions right after Minnesota's pick, and I think that Amukamara would actually be a much better pick for the Vikings than Castonzo or any other offensive lineman in this scenario.

In the second round, McShay makes a great pick for the Vikings when he grabs TCU quarterback Andy Dalton at selection number 43. The more I'm hearing about Dalton, the more I think I'd like him to end up in Minnesota as a potential quarterback of the future. From what was said about his Pro Day, he can make all of the throws, he's a smart guy, and all the guy does is win. . .he was a four-year starter for the Horned Frogs, lost seven games that entire time, led TCU to four bowl games in that time, and was victorious in three of them (not to mention he was the MVP of all of the Horned Frogs' bowl wins in that span).