http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0900...arent-gamechangers?module=HP11_headline_stack The conventional wisdom that USC's Matt Kalil will go to the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 3 overall pick in this week's NFL draft could be losing traction after coach Leslie Frazier said left tackles aren't the "game-changers" that teams are expected to choose so early. La Canfora: Draft rumor mill With the draft nearing, it's a time of great misinformation. Jason La Canfora has 10 thoughts, including a big draft curveball. More ... "You've got to really weigh your options," Frazier told The Star Tribune in a story published Sunday. "Because the philosophy (in the NFL) has always been to get the game-changer. And left tackle is not necessarily the game-changer. Usually game-changers are the guys who can score you points. Receivers. Quarterbacks. So what are we measuring that left tackle against? It's a loaded debate." That debate, according to the Star Tribune, is if an All-Pro left tackle wins a team more games than a skill-position player. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said last week that the team is only considering Kalil, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the No. 3 pick. Left tackle Jake Long was picked first overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2008. But Kalil, considered to be a safe, elite talent, might even slip out of the top 10, according to Greg Cosell of NFL Films. Kalil will be the first tackle to come off the draft board Thursday, but perhaps won't align with a team's needs as early as many assume, Cosell said. The draft's third overall slot has become the most watched, because the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins are expected to take quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III with the No. 1 and No. 1 picks, respectively. Thought this was interesting.....If he drops out of top 10 do we go for him?? Also I dont think the vikings need richardson but may get him after AP injury last year? Maybe blackmon? the trickle effect will go down the list and I think the Jets will now try harder to trade up or other teams trade back
I agree with Frazier. Unless its a weak draft with no elite guys, I never believe in draft OL in the top 5 picks. Or maybe if its a team that got a high pick through a trade and has a pretty good roster already. But if Im a team like the Vikings, Id trade that pick before Id pick Kalil n thats no knock on Kalil.
If Leslie Frazier really said that then I understand why the Vikings have collapsed the last few seasons. LT is either 2nd or 3rd on the hit parade after QB and DE/DT. If he's saying that Kalil is not a good enough LT that's one thing but if he's saying that LT is not a good enough position to spend a top pick on, well Minny better fire him pretty quickly because it ain't getting better there any time soon.
No way in heck Kalil makes it to #16. If he even makes it out of the top 10 either Bills or Cards will be all over him. Truthfully he's overrated..He's a bit of a leaner, is stiff out of his stance &isn't a great pass protector.
This is such a weird draft. No stud pass rusher coming out to get taken at the top of the draft. No clear elite WR. The LT is provoking arguments. The RB had a minor knee procedure. The CB scored about as many points as you get for signing your name on the Wonderlic. David DeCastro may well be the 3rd best elite player in the pool and there's no way he's getting taken before 11. The DT everybody is looking at hard now has great tools but he wasn't dominant in college and he still may well go in the top 7.
Straight up he just isn't worth a top 3 pick...especially a team with as many needs as the Vikes have. I believe this is all about the Vikes desire to trade down a few spots. They know that the pressure cooker is surrounding all the teams in need of a QB & that Tannehill is the only guy up for grabs at this point worthy of a first round pick. Kalil maybe the right fit for their franchise but they don't want top pay him a top 3 salary, and also want to take advantage of the demand for a franchise QB, and come out withn a boatload of picks to fill needs. If I'm Minnesota, & I can't trade down...I draft Tannehill & trade him to the team who offers me the best compensation package.
He's a good pass protector, he's got quick feet, just doesn't have the power to be much of a run blocker. He's very,very similar to D'Brickashaw Ferguson. I don't know if he's top 3 worthy, but if I'm the Minnesota Vikings with the roster they have I would take him. They have "playmakers" on both sides in AP and JA. Getting a solid LT to keep for a decade is going to help whoever they may develop as their QB in that time frame.
But if you're Minnesota all that turns into is a QB competition in camp with your 1st round picks from the last two years facing off against each other and no LT to protect either one of them. Tannehill is not worth the 3 pick. He's not worth the 13 pick. He may well not be worth the 23 pick. Desperation on the part of Miami and Cleveland doesn't change that fact.
I agree w/ you...Tannehill is the next Kyle Bolller. He shouldn't even be in consideration until around pick #25. But teams like Cleveland & Miami are so desperate for a high ceiling QB, that we both know there is no way in hell he makes it out of the top 10. My scenario is only under the assumption that the Vikes can't get the package they are looking for to move out of the # 3 spot. If they can't, they take Tannehill. They can then use the supposed "QB competition" between he & Ponder as leverage to get either Miami or Cleveland to overspend on a compensation package.
I don't think there's any way they take Tannehill at 3. If you're Miami or Cleveland why would you overpay when you know Minnesota has to get rid of a guy? I think the right move is Kalil, but with Stafford and Rodgers in your division, I think they have to be thinking Claiborne if they don't go o-line.
A stud right tackle is probably our top need however. All Kalil would have to do is switch sides and our line is one of the best in the game again. Not that we have any chance of getting him. Jonathan Martin at 16 should get strong consideration
Tough decision for the Vikings. I personally think Claiborne is too high of a pick at 3 (nothing wrong with Claiborne, I just think the CB position may be overvalued at #3). I know they need corners with Rodgers, Stafford, and Cutler in the division, but IMO they're best bet is to take Kalil at 3, or trade down to the 6-9 area, get an extra pick(s) and take Reiff.
The Vikings would be crazy to select Claiborne over Kalil. I'm not the biggest Kalil fan but you HAVE to protect your quarterback at the next level. There isnt anything sexy about drafting an Olineman, but it has to be done
It really depends on where you have guys on your board though. If the Vikings for instance think Bobbie Massie can be close to if not just as good as Kalil, it might make sense to go Claiborne-Massie in the first two rounds instead of maybe Kalil-Brandon Boykin.
Its a crap draft to have the #3 pick in thats for sure. In this draft I think you want to either be picking around #12 or in the #20's
the LT may not be a game changer that scores you points, but he sure as hell can be a game changer that costs you points
