2012 NFL Draft Individual Grades: *** Rick Spielman says the No. 3 pick will come down to Matt Kalil, Justin Blackmon and Morris Claiborne. I'd like to issue grades for all three scenarios. *** 3. Matt Kalil, OT, USC: A+ Grade The Vikings made a big investment in Christian Ponder, and they're doing the right thing by protecting him. Ponder suffered a hip injury last year, thanks in part to his offensive line's ineptness. Kalil, considered by most to be the top prospect in this class outside of the two quarterbacks and Trent Richardson, will be a huge upgrade over Charlie Johnson at left tackle. Some may argue that teams don't need an elite blind-side protector to win in the NFL. This is true, but only if you have a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback. Ponder is not that (at least not yet), so he needs all the help he can get. Bravo, Rick Spielman. You made the correct decision. Update: Great job by Spielman. Not only did he get Kalil; he traded down and got some picks too. Awesome. 29. Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame: A- Grade The Vikings had a bunch of picks from the Matt Kalil trade, so they gave up a fourth-rounder to move up six spots. This was a good move; Harrison Smith fits the range and offers a huge upgrade at safety. He'll really improve Minnesota's secondary.