The new SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft is out and they have a big surprise in store for the Minnesota Vikings. Rather than using their third overall selection on a big name player, they have Minnesota trading their third overall pick to the Seattle Seahawks, who then use the pick to grab Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.
With their newly acquired 12th overall selection -- there's no mention of what else the Seahawks might throw in to make a trade like this a bit sweeter for the Vikings -- Minnesota are slated to select Dre Kirkpatrick, a cornerback out of Alabama.
Kirkpatrick's weed arrest is going to get his name bumped down on some draft boards but he is a first rate corner whose legal troubles pale in comparison to Chris Cook.
Few would complain about getting a member of the vaunted Alabama defense, especially a fantastic CB like Kirkpatrick despite the marijuana issue. Look for trades like this to start dominating the mock drafts in the future as interest starts to spike in the players up at the high end of the draft lists. Robert Griffin III with the third overall pick might be of great interest to any number of teams.
For more on the Vikings, check out The Daily Norseman. For more on the draft in general, check out Mocking The Draft or just go to the SB Nation NFL hub at sbnation.com/NFL.