First off, the Vikings pulled off one of the best 180’s I have ever seen a down and broke team pull off since I started watching the purple and gold! 10-6 douses the sting of 3-13 and gives us all some optimism for what 2013 may bring. The draft in 2012 was perhaps one of the franchises best, giving the Vikings a ton of talent and providing an instant lift on multiple phases of the team. GM Rick Spielman will have a tough time trying to equal his success this year. If he manages to pull off another awesome trade or trades back into the first to grab two first rounders with the same success, it will just add to his draft resume of ballsy awesomeness. I know Rick and the rest of the front office are taking a breather but it’s still fun to speculate what players may don the horns in the 2013 draft. This of course will vary on what happens in the off season up to the draft. There are a few names that could spark some interest.

Pre-Draft:

Norv Turner

Hire Mr. Turner as Offensive Coordinator and kindly give Bill Musgrave the boot. There is no denying Norv would be an enormous and immediate upgrade at the Offensive Coordinator position. I know some people could protest we made it to the playoffs and pulling a key cog of the coaching staff could result in some backlash for a developing Quarterback as well as other parts of the offense. But honestly, most of the team’s offensive game planning has been running Adrian Peterson. Truly, there is no messing around here. Norv Turner is proven as a more-than-capable OC and would make us forget Musgrave quite quickly.

Acquisition Likelihood: 10%

Coach Frazier doesn’t seem capable of letting people go, at least on the coaching staff and after finishing the season with a playoff berth, he is probably very content with keeping Musgrave. Plus I believe the Browns have or are about to hire Turner as their OC.

Percy Harvin

PAY THE MAN! I know he is starting to show some diva-ish-ness but there is simply no questioning his talent. He is worth it, in my opinion, and will provide a little more lightning for our offenses firepower. He does need to understand his place, though. If he thinks the offense needs to go through him and the occasional AD then he is quite mistaken. It really showed after Percy got injured how much Ponder tried to air it out to the other receivers. Let’s all hope that Percy isn’t demanding the ball and that Ponder has some free will.

Acquisition Likelihood: 90%

Reports from Frazier indicate all is good and he is pretty much incapable of lying or even showing a poker face and that is good enough confirmation for me. If they do trade him, it must be for a first round pick. He is a proven top tier talent and is too vital to this organization to not receive a top pick in exchange for his services.

Dwayne Bowe

A lot of fans have been asking about Dwayne Bowe all year and I think that he is an intriguing option. He left the season injured and shouldn’t demand a high price tag and that is totally Rick Spielman Free Agent material. I like him because he is going to be cheap and with the contract Harvin will be demanding, money will be scarce.

Acquisition Likelihood: 30%

The Vikings organization hasn’t let on that they are interested in Bowe but like I said, his price tag should generate some interest from Spielman pre-draft. I think a Jerome Simpson-like deal would be the treatment to prove his mettle in a year. This deal could change if Bowe has a lot of suitors and drive up his price but I think his price will stay fairly tame coming off of an injury.

Greg Jennings

Jennings is a very good wide receiver that brings experience and could fit nicely into what will probably be a young wide out corp (after the draft, that is). One must wonder if his success isn’t from prolific quarterbacks tossing him the rock, though.

Acquisition Likelihood: 5%

He is talented but I think that his price will be too large, especially if he finishes the 2012 season on a high note. If he is the right price, I could see some interest but this is not likely. Plus, Green Bay will probably want him to retire a Packer.

The Draft

Concept 1:

**This mock is assuming no FA players are acquired pre-draft.

R1. Keenan Allen – WR

R2. Kawann Short – DT

R3. David Amerson – CB

R4. Alvin Bailey – G

R4. Jon Bostic – ILB

R5. Tyrann Mathieu – CB

R7. Marquess Wilson – WR

R7. Zach Rogers – WR

Concept 2:

**Here is another mock with the assumption that the Vikes pick up a FA wide receiver before the draft:

R1. Jesse Williams – DT

R2. Justin Hunter – WR

R3. David Amerson – CB

R4. Alvin Bailey – G

R4. Jon Bostic – ILB

R5. Tyrann Mathieu – CB

R7. Brad Wing – P

R7. Zach Rogers – WR

Concept 3:

Building an offensive line with first round talent really seems to be working for the 49ers (they have 3 first round O-Linemen!) so why not draft a good guard and if Jonathan Cooper is available he would be a huge improvement on run blocking over Fusco or Charlie Johnson and improve pass blocking.

R1. Jonathan Cooper – G

R2. Kawann Short – DT

R3. Stedman Bailey – WR

R4. A.J. Klein – ILB

R4. Chris Harper – WR

R5. Tyrann Mathieu – CB

R7. Marquess Wilson – WR

R7. Robbie Rouse – RB

Honestly, I really like the thought of taking the safe route and going Guard first round (Concept 3). Apparently Manti Te'o's stock is slightly falling and it could put him within range of the Vikings. If that were to happen, I say he would be the BPA over my previous first rounders in any concept.

Let me know via the poll your feelings about these mocks.