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2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft - The Minnesota Viking Select....

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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)