FanPost

Is Matt Kalil the Next Tony Mandarich?

A highly touted offensive tackle from a successful college program taken with a top-5 draft pick by a NFC North team that turns out to be an absolute disaster on the field? For those who immediately think "Matt Kalil", this scenario has played out before and long-time followers of the Purple know how it ends.

In 1989, the Green Bay Packers drafted Tony Mandarich out of Michigan State with the 2nd overall pick in the NFL draft. Mandarich, nicknamed "The Incredible Bulk" by Sports Illustrated was everything a team could want. He was 6'6", 330 pounds, with a mean streak. He punished defenders two at a time in college and dominated everyone who went up against him. The Packers drafted Mandarich and expected him to be a stalwart at the offensive tackle position for years to come. But whether it was the rampant steroid use, the addiction to pain-killers, or just Mandarich's inability to transition to the pro game, he was finished with the Packers after his rookie contract expired in 1991 having not played a single down his final year with the team. He is considered one of the all time busts in NFL draft history.

Enter Matt Kalil and the Minnesota Vikings.

In 2012, the Vikings drafted Kalil with the 4th overall draft pick and had penciled him in to be their long-term answer at left tackle. Kalil had the skills and tools to be extremely successful in the NFL: excellent family lineage, quick and nimble feet, deft and agile hands, bulk and power to dominate the run game, and a demeanor that was deemed calm, collected, yet fiery when needed. The team and fanbase were all smiles and Kalil seemed to be as sure of a thing that one could get in a draft pick. He would be the long-term answer at left tackle, tasked to protect young quarterback Christian Ponder's blind side for years to come.

Kalil fired out of the gate with a rookie performance that everyone had hoped for. His powerful run-blocking opened gaping holes that paved the way for running back Adrian Peterson's near record-breaking 2012 season. His pass blocking protected Ponder and the Vikings made an unexpected run to the playoffs with a 10-6 record following a 3-13 season in 2011. He earned a pro-bowl roster spot for the NFC and the future was extremely bright for the young man as a long and successful career seemed to be in the cards.

But everything since that magical season has gone very astray.

Watching Kalil on Sunday, I as a fan cannot even recognize the player that he has become since that astounding rookie year. His feet, once so quick and nimble, have become slow and plodding. He is slow off the ball and has very little burst. His hands, once so deft and agile, now clutch and grab, desperately attempting to maintain contact. He no longer overpowers and drives defenders, and where he once gracefully moved laterally providing protection to his quarterback, he now stands like a statue and flails and punches at his opposing defender as they blow by him toward another sack. Last, but not least, his demeanor that seemed so cool and collected has now turned to fragile and despondent and the fire within him appears to have been doused. Unlike Mandarich, no drug usage has been rumored, but something is definitely amiss with the the hulking left tackle.

Sadly for Kalil and the Vikings, a decision on his future will be necessary soon. His rookie contract expires after next season and what seemed like such a sure re-signing now has question marks and red flags everywhere. General Manager Rick Spielman, slow to admit draft mistakes (see Ponder, Christian for example) may have no choice and, like Mike Holmgren for the Packers in 1991, end the employment of a player he had no intent of ever requiring to do so.

Should that come to pass, the NFC North may add another to the list of all-time draft busts in NFL history.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.