The 2011 NFL Draft has come to an end from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. There’s bound to be mixed reactions to the weekend’s proceedings for the Minnesota Vikings. We’ll get to a comprehensive recap of the Vikings’ Draft a bit later, but let’s first take a look at the team’s first of two picks in the seventh and final round — D’Aundre Reed, a defensive end from the University of Arizona.
Taken with the 215th overall pick, Reed stands at at 6’4 and just over 260 pounds — classic ‘tweener’ size for prospects trying to make the transition to the bigger and faster NFL game. He’s not quite big or strong enough to be a starter at defensive line, and he’s not quite fast or athletic enough to play as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
Because Minnesota is still running a 4-3 base defense, Reed will be a reserve defensive lineman if he were to make it through camp and earn a helmet in ‘11. He does provide some upside as a run stopping gap clogger. Having been dominant against the run for the better part of the previous decade, the Vikings will have to re-tool their roster in the trenches as the Vikings’ triumvirate of Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Jared Allen aren’t getting any younger. Of course, the Vikings’ third round selection, Christian Ballard, was drafted to bolster the team’s defensive line. Consequently, Reed will likely find his way to the practice squad to undergo a rigorous year of strength and conditioning work before having much of a shot at earning a helmet even in a reserve capacity on the Vikings’ defense.
For more reaction to the Vikings’ pick, as well as the rest of the team’s haul in this year’s Draft, be sure to head on over to Daily Norseman for complete coverage, analysis, and fan discussion.