Some people around the internet think much more highly of the Minnesota Vikings' 2011 NFL Draft, like the folks at NBC Sports. The folks from the peacock network gave the Vikings an overall grade of a B+ for their selections over the past three days.
Here's what they had to say about the picks.
Todd McShay bashed the Ponder pick. Still, Minnesota needed a quarterback, Ponder played in a pro-style offense at FSU, and he is NFL-ready with perhaps the draft's most accurate arm. It's not bad. Behind Ponder, you can't question the value of any of G.M. Rick Spielman's remaining selections. DeMarcus Love won't stay at tackle in the pros, but he could be a mauling right guard. Kyle Rudolph is a starter in two-tight end sets. Brandon Burton and Christian Ballard were second-day prospects, at least according to draftniks. Brandon Fusco is a developmental center. Ross Homan, De'Aundre Reed, and Stephen Burton are great late-round fliers.
Can't help but agree with the folks from NBC on this one. The Ponder pick is still a good one, and Rick Spielman spent the rest of the draft grabbing guys that should have been long gone by the time the Vikings selected them. There was a reason the man traded and stockpiled those four sixth-round picks, because he saw value, and he got good value at all four of those selections.