vikings/nfl

Word has it that Kalil is not excited at all about being drafted by the vikings because everyone knows that they are 5 or more years away from even being able to compete for a NFC North Division title. Kalil is hoping that a deal can be done in which the vikings trade their pick so he can be drafted by another team. Seems no one is interested in being part of the vikings 10 year re-building program.

Kalil has said to the Vikings and to the media that he'd be happy to come to the Vikings ... the rumor that he'd rather go elsewhere came from his girlfriend. When you get down to it, Kalil is a competitor with an attitude; he's not going to sandbag it regardless of which team chooses him. Unfortunately, I'm starting to see postings in the national sports media and out of Buffalo (who would love to trade up to get Kalil, especially if the Vikes pass on him) that Spielman is seriously thinking of taking Claiborne instead of Kalil ... which would of course be a collossal mistake for the future of the team. Yes, we need cornerbacks ... but when you have the absolute best left tackle in the draft in years in the hand, not in the bush ... you flat out make the pick. Vikings offenses ran and passed behind Ron Yary for years... Orlando Pace was the reason the rams and enjoyed the success they had in the late 90s, and if the Vikings seriously want to develop and/or evaluate how good Christian Ponder really is, they have one pick at number three in the draft; Kalil. Don't overthink this thing, make the pick!

Kalil should be the pick, but Spielman will blow it on Claiborne. The real problem in the secondary is the scheme. They play mostly a soft zone, so what is a corner who loves to play man going to do? Unless the Vikes change their scheme, Claiborne's impact will be minimal.

Unfortunately, the vikings are more than 5 years away from even getting back to an 8-8 season and West Coast players like Kalil do not want to be drafted by teams like the vikings who are and will be going nowhere for quite some time. For starters there is no hiding the fact that the vikings O-line is in complete shambles and the WR corps is at an Arena League level given that it is currently made up of players that have been let go or outright cut from other teams. At the QB position Ponder has shown that he could someday be an everyday starter but that would for a last place team and not for a serious contender. Worse yet the vikings have no other option at the QB position because they are hoping that the one demensional back-up Webb might compete for the job but that has not and will never happen except in a league that does not allow passing because he has shown only one thing over the past two years and that is lining up in the shotgun formation, doing a pump fake and then immediately take off and try and gain yards on the run. Lastly, the vikings defensive backfield is so completely void of talent it will take at least 3 years before they can even think of getting out of the bottom 5 of the NFL's worst pass defense in terms of average yards given up through the air per game and per attempt. Until clueless Frazier and inept Spielman are sent packing the vikings will continue their downward spiral!!!

@dumbhomer...how can you say that? 5 years? you don't know...look at San Fran...one year turn around...anything can happen in the NFL...anything...not saying it will but anything can happen...

lindy_frank123- San Francisco has great talent on defense and a great coach.... The Vikings have Leslie Frazier as their coach... San Francisco didn't magically get better. They changed leadership and their team responded. What did the Vikings do? They HIRED the guy that San Francisco got rid of to coach their LBers!!! I find it hilarious that you cite the Niners as an example of a team going from the cellar to the penthouse yet the Vikings hire the head coach who lead the Niners into the cellar! When Spielman, Frazier and Ponder all lose their jobs THEN we can start talking about turning things around.

The Vikings are in no position to take chances, just do the smart thing and listen to Sid on this one.

Can't go wrong with a good lineman.

Anyone drafting in the top 10 probably isn't going to be a good team for a while so I doubt Kalil is hoping we don't pick him so that somebody else will. Of all our needs, Kalil makes the most sense. If Spielman can find a way to trade our 3rd pick and move down a few slots and still get Kalil, then fine and good. If not, it's a mistake.

"I'm not trying to be critical of Spielman, who has done a great job drafting for the Vikings..." >>>>>> Ummmm, a great job? Check out how many starters we have from Spielman's last 5 drafts. His record is spotty at best.