For the No. 12 pick in the second-annual Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, CarsonOrBust selected for the Minnesota Vikings, who have the standard three picks available. Here is the pick...
With the No. 11 pick in the 2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...
Tyron Smith, OT, USC
On the shelf of 2010 disappointments, next to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys, sit the Minnesota Vikings. Making it all the way to the NFC championship game a season ago and coming within one INT of a Super Bowl birth, the team had high expectations heading into the season. Instead, the Vikings finished the season dead last in the NFC North (that's right, behind the Lions). However, sitting at the #12 spot in the draft, the Vikes are in a tough position. Most likely the elite QBs, DEs, and CBs (all positions of need) will be gone by the time they pick, so they'll have to decide if they want want to go after one of the lesser rated talents at those spots, or find an elite player at another position group.
The 'real' retirement (or so we pray) of Bret Favre leaves a void at QB, but with Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert already off the board, there is simply no QB in the field worthy of the #12 pick. Cornerback is another trouble spot for the Vikes, but neither Patrick Peterson, nor Prince Amukumara fell to them here, and Jimmy Smith from Colorado feels like a reach. The possible departure of free agent defensive end Ray Edwards would certainly leave a gaping hole in their pass rush, but the team already has last year's draft pick Everson Griffin, the talented (albeit troubled) DE waiting in the wings. Though there are certainly a wealth of solid defensive ends still available (Aldon Smith and Cameron Jordan in particular), with DaQuan Bowers and Robert Quinn off the board, the Vikings might be better off looking for an elite talent at one of the other positions. The most likely spot to look is at offensive tackle.At this point, zero offensive lineman have come off the board, which gives the Vikes an opportunity to upgrade their tackles, who were average at best last year. Their second year RT, Phil Loadholt had a miserable sophomore campaign. According to Pro Football Focus, Loadholt allowed four pressures or more in a game 10 times last year. The Vikings LT Bryant Mckinnie was solid last year, but is also upgradeable. Derek Sherrod, who projects as an ideal RT because of his run-blocking ability was a consideration here, as was Anthony Castonzo, but in the end I decided to go with the most athletically gifted tackle in this years draft class: Tyron Smith. After measuring at the combine arm length that rivals Inspector Gadget (36 3/8 inches), and bulking up to a solid looking 307 lbs, it appears that Smith has all the tools necessary to be a successful tackle in the NFL. Because of the Loadholt fiasco, the bigger need for the Vikes is at RT and though some have projected Smith as a LT in the NFL, it should be noted that at USC he played the right side of the line. Even if he does end up at LT, Smith will be an immediate upgrade to the pass protection, and will give the Vikes the flexibility to shake up their line next year. Drafting Smith will lay a solid foundation for whoever is quarterbacking the team, and will pave the way for another Adrian Peterson fueled 2011 campaign.
Tyron Smith Highlights:
Draft Overview:
| Team | Picked By | Name/Positon of Pick |
| Carolina | James Shively | Nick Fairley / DT |
| Denver | sexsalad | Patrick Peterson / CB |
| Buffalo | Elguapo09 | Von Miller / OLB |
| Cincinnati | Jason Garrison +2 | A.J. Green / WR |
| Arizona | Broski | Da'Quan Bowers / DE |
| Cleveland | Joe Goodberry | Marcell Dareus / DL |
| San Francisco | Heybrown | Prince Amukamara/CB |
| Tennessee | Oxalis |
Cam Newton/ QB |
| Dallas | Jim0ijk | Robert Quinn/ DE |
| Washington | Pardon_My_French | Blaine Gabbert/ QB |
| Houston | Joe27 | Julio Jones/ WR |
| Minnesota | CarsonOrBust | Tyron Smith/ OL |
| Detroit | The_Black_Stripes | |
| St. Louis | Jaegner | |
| Miami | JaredM | |
| Jacksonville | Whodatchemsit | |
| New England (from Oakland / Seymour) | UpStateMike | |
| San Diego | Quickslant | |
| New York Giants | TheDealio | |
| Tampa Bay | Doc Scratch | |
| Kansas City | Indesignkat | |
| Indianapolis | Ddbumpus | |
| Philadelphia | Buckeyenut12 | |
| New Orleans | FriarBob | |
| Seattle | IgnatiusJReilly | |
| Baltimore | FriarBob | |
| Atlanta | TruWhoDey | |
| New England | UpStateMike | |
| Chicago | Bsmith4256 | |
| New York Jets | Polo_614 | |
| Pittsburgh | Jason Garrison | |
| Green Bay | Sean Weaver | |
| New England (from Carolina / Armanti Edwards) | UpStateMike | |
| Buffalo | Elguapo09 | |
| Cincinnati | Jason Garrison +2 | |
| Denver | sexsalad | |
| Cleveland | Jason Garrison | |
| Arizona | Broski | |
| Tennessee | Oxalis | |
| Dallas | Jim0ijk | |
| Washington | Pardon_My_French | |
| Houston | Joe27 | |
| Minnesota | CarsonOrBust | |
| Detroit | The_Black_Stripes | |
| San Francisco | Heybrown | |
| Denver (from Miami / Brandon Marshall) | sexsalad | |
| St. Louis | Jaegner | |
| Oakland | NoodleXV | |
| Jacksonville | Whodatchemsit | |
| San Diego | Quickslant | |
| Tampa Bay | Doc Scratch | |
| New York Giants | TheDealio | |
| Indianapolis | Ddbumpus | |
| Philadelphia | Buckeyenut12 | |
| Kansas City | Indesignkat | |
| New Orleans | FriarBob | |
| Seattle | IgnatiusJReilly | |
| Baltimore | Joe Goodberry | |
| Atlanta | TruWhoDey | |
| New England | UpStateMike | |
| San Diego (from NYJets / Antonio Cromartie) | Quickslant | |
| Chicago | Bsmith4256 | |
| Pittsburgh | FriarBob | |
| Green Bay | Sean Weaver | |
| Carolina | James Shively | |
| Cincinnati | Jason Garrison +2 | |
| Denver | sexsalad | |
| Buffalo | Elguapo09 | |
| Arizona | Broski | |
| Cleveland | FriarBob | |
| Dallas | Jim0ijk | |
| New Orleans (from Washington / Jammal Brown) | FriarBob | |
| Houston | Joe27 | |
| New England (from Minnesota / Randy Moss) | UpStateMike | |
| Detroit | The_Black_Stripes | |
| San Francisco | Heybrown | |
| Tennessee | Oxalis | |
| St. Louis | Jaegner | |
| Miami | JaredM | |
| Jacksonville | Whodatchemsit | |
| Oakland | NoodleXV | |
| San Diego | Quickslant | |
| New York Giants | TheDealio | |
| Tampa Bay | Doc Scratch | |
| Philadelphia | Buckeyenut12 | |
| Kansas City | Indesignkat | |
| Indianapolis | Ddbumpus | |
| New Orleans | FriarBob | |
| San Diego (from Seattle / Charlie Whitehurst) | Quickslant | |
| Baltimore | Jason Garrison | |
| Atlanta | TruWhoDey | |
| New England | UpStateMike | |
| Chicago | Bsmith4256 | |
| New York Jets | Polo_614 | |
| Pittsburgh | Joe Goodberry | |
| Green Bay | Sean Weaver | |
| (possible compensatory) | ||
| (possible compensatory) | ||
| (possible compensatory) | ||
| (possible compensatory) |