February 28th, 2011 
Adam Warwas 
Posted in Sorry for the unannounced absence the last couple of days. Sometimes life gets busy despite my best efforts to plan the exact opposite.
With that being said, I have had plenty of time to watch almost all of the NFL Network’s coverage of the Scouting Combine (record it to your DVR, then fast forward through all commercials and all 72 Under Armor promos, and it’ll go by a lot quicker) and despite the fact that the defensive backs don’t work out until tomorrow, I have already made one major determination…
The defensive talent in this draft is too great to pass up.
Sure, there were a few guys on the offensive side of the ball, particularly linemen, that impressed me with their combine performances.
However, the most talent and the best depth at each position is obviously on the defensive side of the ball.
In fact, if I am the Vikings then there is no way that Cam Newton is in my top 12 and Blaine Gabbert is borderline. My top 12 would be dominated by this year’s impressive class of defensive linemen and cornerbacks.
Von Miller showed on Monday that he is an incredibly gifted player and Robert Quinn made quite the impression after missing last year with an NCAA suspension.
While offensive positions keep having players fall out of favor for various reasons, it seems like the defensive positions keep getting deeper and deeper.
So, if my assessment is correct, how does this affect the Vikings?
Despite the team’s best efforts to deny any notion that they are rebuilding the roster, disguising these efforts by calling it a “youth movement,” the fact is that they are a team with two unproven quarterbacks that are potentially losing their #1 receiver.
At this point, it seems inevitable that free agency will not occur until some point until after the draft.
Despite the most glaring needs being on offense, this team is just a few draft picks away from becoming completely dominant on defense and in the run game; two very important ingredients for competing in the NFL.
My vote is for the Vikings to be relatively conservative when it comes to trading on draft day and to take the best player available when on the clock.
The more I see of this draft class, the more likely I think it is that the best player available plays on defense.
Oh how I wish Patrick Peterson would fall to us at 12
I hear you hookem. If only we didn’t beat the eagles..
Just now, and before the results of the Combine are digested, Vike have a shot at some dominant Defensive Linemen: Cameron Jordan, Robert Quinn, Aldon Smith, Adrian Clayborn, Cam Heyward to name a few.
The Combine is home to some workout wonders. Great DL draft but nothing is assured at the next level.
History of the draft suggests safest picks at top of draft have been Offensive linemen-Tackles. That’s where you have to go to get the really good ones and either Solder and Tyron Smith could be there.
Two teams I think of as drafting DLs in top spots: Houston and Arizona. Always drafting speedy edge rushers. Draft after Draft. Never seemed to improve those defenses. Workout wonders like Demitrius Underwood. DL seems like more of a crapshoot
For what it’s worth, here’s what I wish would happen:
Pick up Tyron Smith or Nate Solder in the first round, trade back to get one of them if possible (maybe get our third-rounder back).
Address safety/cornerback in the second round.
Snag a flex D-lineman or a linebacker in the third round (provided we can somehow get a pick).
Use later rounds to address corner depth, defensive line, interior offensive line, and fullback.
Something no one cares about: I know we’ve got D’Imperio on the practice squat for a reason, but I think we should invest in a stud fullback towards the end of this draft. I’m talking about Pitt’s Henry Hynoski. 6’0 257 pounds of pure man. He can block (HARD), run, catch, and pass protect. We could get him easily in the late rounds. I have a bit of a man crush on the guy, I’ll admit, but Tahi ain’t cutting it and if we want to run the ball we need a fullback.
Oh, and as for QB, I wouldn’t mind if we didn’t pick someone up at all. I don’t want anything to do with Mallett or Newton, and I think anyone else is going to be a project. We’d be better off going after Palmer or a free agent.
I would take Jake Locker though…