The Minnesota Vikings are widely expected to take USC offensive lineman Matt Kalil with the No. 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

But Sports Illustrated's Peter King recently implored the Vikes to buck convention and take LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. King writes:

I don't get it. I know the Vikes want to protect Christian Ponder from eternal damnation (and a boatload of sacks), but they have six games a year against Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford, who'll throw a combined 100 TD passes each season. Minnesota's secondary is horrible-even worse than its offensive line. The Vikings don't need a corner. They need two.

Touché.

Taking Claiborne at No. 3 would put him in rarified air for a cornerback. Since 2002, just three corners have gone in the top five: Quentin Jammer ('02), Terence Newman ('03) and Patrick Peterson ('10).

Charles Woodson, who was drafted No. 4 overall in 1998, was the last corner to go before No. 5.

That could change, of course, if the Vikings heed King's advice.

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