NFL Mock Draft 2013: Vikings could look to add weapons for Christian Ponder

The Minnesota Vikings made some serious strides this past season, and had their rookie first-round pick, Matt Kalil, make the Pro Bowl. After making the playoffs this year, they won't have the luxury of picking in the top-end of the draft this time around, so it will be tough to bring in some high-impact players to contribute.

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And there are still plenty of needs in Minnesota. Their defense played exceptionally well this season, while the offense lagged behind at times. Quarterback Christian Ponder is still the guy going forward, but the Vikings might need to give him some more weapons to work with.

Dan Kadar of SB Nation released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has them doing just that, taking Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson with the No. 23 pick.

If the Vikings want to make Christian Ponder more than a game manager, he needs better receiving threats on the outside. Patterson is one of the best vertical threats in the draft this year and can be used in the return game as well.

Minnesota really only had Percy Harvin this past season, and he has been banged up off and on throughout the past few years. With Adrian Peterson carrying more than his share of the weight on offense, coming just short of breaking the NFL's single-season rushing record, the Vikings really do need to add some more pop to the passing game.

Patterson would do that. He'd be a big deep threat who could play and run those simple routes from the get-go as he learns more and more of the playbook throughout the season. Most of the top defensive talent in this draft will be going fast, so it is likely that the best player available would be an offensive player at No. 23.