When it comes to grading the 2011 National Football League Draft, the one name that so many people want to hear from is that if Mel Kiper. . .draft expert.
Well, Kiper's grades are out for this year's selection meeting, and he really didn't think very highly of what the Minnesota Vikings did in this year's draft, giving the team a C+ mark overall. Only four teams. . .the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Seattle Seahawks. . .received lower grades than that, while seven other teams got the same C+ mark as Minnesota did.
Here's what Mel Kiper had to say about Minnesota's 2011 NFL Draft.
The Vikings clearly need an answer at the quarterback position, but they reached for Ponder at No. 12. They clearly believe he's their guy long-term, but the draft is about value too. When you saw Dalton land all the way down at No. 35, you had to wonder if Ponder could have been had later. The Rudolph pick was a pretty solid value and Ballard could be a good defensive lineman. The Vikings also landed some needed help at cornerback and along the offensive line. Minnesota reached for a quarterback, in my opinion, and like Tennessee, still doesn't know who will start the season at quarterback. However, the Vikings rebounded nicely on Days 2 and 3.
So, he dings the Vikings a lot based solely on their selection of Christian Ponder, which I still don't think I understand. The Vikings needed a quarterback, they spent three months researching all of the available quarterbacks, and they took the guy that they think fits their offense. I was sort of under the impression that that's what the NFL Draft was all about.