2009 NFL Mock Draft: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings edged out the Chicago Bears to take the NFC North with a 10-6 record in 2008, but they were unable to get anything done in the postseason. After being benched for a good portion of the season, Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson took advantage of an opportunity late in the season and performed much better. Still, the QB position seems to be one of the areas holding the Vikings back from becoming a Super Bowl contender. Jimmy Boyd examines Minnesota’s most pressing needs, likely day 1 targets, and recent draft track record in this 2009 NFL Draft preview.

Biggest Draft Needs – The Vikings don’t appear sold on Tarvaris Jackson, but he did play with a lot more confidence late in the season. Still, the Vikings may look to grab a QB in this draft, but it likely won’t be in the first few rounds unless someone drops unexpectedly. The Vikes could use an offensive tackle prospect to add depth right away. Expect them to address the secondary on day one as well. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Vikes go after a wide receiver in round three. Bernard Berrian is a solid deep threat, but all in all the Vikings’ receiving corps is far from complete.

Likely Day 1 Targets – Expect the Vikings to go offensive line with their first pick. A guy like Arizona’s Eben Britton could fall right into their lap. At 6′6”, 310 pounds, Britton is a great combination of size and strength. He’s shown quick feet and great balance and is still developing, which means that we likely haven’t seen the best from him yet.

Most Vikings fans will agree that the team needs help in the secondary and getting a player like Vandy cornerback D.J. Moore in round two would be a great fit. Moore has been described as the best pure cover corner in this year’s draft. Moore is an exceptional athlete with great speed and the Vikes would be getting a bit of a two-for-1 here as he is an outstanding return man.

On day two, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikes go with the best available wide receiver. A guy like Georgia’s Mohamed Massaquoi could work himself into a starting role in a year or two. At 6′2”, 210 pounds, he has good size and he also has a quick burst off the line. As seen at Georgia, he is a major threat to run after the catch. An absolutely stellar senior season with 58 grabs for 920 yards, crushing his numbers in the previous three seasons, tells me he is still getting better.

Recent Draft Track Record – The Vikings ignored the injury history of running back Adrian Peterson in 2007 and the risk has paid off in a big way so far. Other recent draft hits include linebacker Chad Greenway, cornerback Cedric Griffin, and defensive end Ray Edwards. We are yet to know if trading up to get QB Tarvaris Jackson with the last pick of the second round in 2006 will pay off. Overall, the Vikings have not been great on draft day during the current administration. I will give the organization props last season for trading away their draft to land premier defensive end Jared Allen.

Make sure you’re doing your NFL wagering on Jimmy Boyd’s NFL picks this season for consistent winners against the NFL lines.

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

• 2009 NFL Mock Draft Draft: Kansas City Chiefs
• 2009 NFL Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons
• 2009 NFL Mock Draft: Chicago Bears
• 2009 NFL Mock Draft: New Orleans Saints
• 2009 NFL Mock Draft: Washington Redskins

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