Here's the mock moment you've all been mock waiting for folks. Eleven mock picks are in, which means it's time for mock Roger Goodell to take another turn at the mock podium and mock announce the mock pick for the Vikings!
"With the twelfth pick in the 2011 Daily Norseman Community Mock Draft, the soon-to-be Super Bowl XLVI Champion Minnesota Vikings select..."
(...hey, it's our mock draft, we can have mock Goodell say whatever we mocking please...)
"Jake Locker, quarterback out of the University of Washington."
This one was really close. With over 1600 votes cast by you, the dedicated DN readers, Locker won the plurality with 23% of the vote. Right on Locker's heels were Robert Quinn and Ryan Mallett with 20% of the vote a piece.
I've seen a lot of mock drafts with the Vikings taking Locker lately, so we're definitely not alone with this pick. However, I'm sure picking him would cause a very mixed reaction among fans, judging from the comments in our previous mock draft post.
Now it's time for another NFC North team to choose--the Detroit Lions.
After ridding their franchise of the stink bomb that is Matt Millen, the Lions have actually drafted pretty well the past couple years. Those draft picks have helped Detroit become respectable once again after their horrendous 0-16 season in 2008. What do the Motor City Kitties need to address in order to continue their ascent towards legitimacy?
The Lions are pretty well equipped in the offensive skill positions, as long as Matthew Stafford can stay on the field for more than a few plays in a row. However, they could definitely use some help along their offensive line. They may opt to bolster their secondary and pass rush with this pick as well. Ndamukong Suh was lights out as a rookie, but he could use a lot of help next to him as well as behind him on that defense.
Detroit is yet another team that may look to trade out of their spot if they feel like they can fill their needs later on in the draft. If the Lions think there are some good values to be had in the second round on the O-line, I wouldn't be surprised to see them deal the 13th pick. But of course that's not allowed in this mock draft, so once again we're leaving it in your hands. Who should the Lions go with?
Picks Thus Far
- Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton, quarterback, Auburn
- Denver Broncos - Patrick Peterson, cornerback, LSU
- Buffalo Bills - Marcell Dareus, defensive tackle, Alabama
- Cincinnati Bengals - Blaine Gabbert, quarterback, Missouri
- Arizona Cardinals - Von Miller, linebacker, Texas A&M
- Cleveland Browns - A.J. Green, wide receiver, Georgia
- San Francisco 49ers - Prince Amukamara, cornerback, Nebraska
- Tennessee Titans - Nick Fairley, defensive tackle, Auburn
- Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith, offensive tackle, USC
- Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, wide receiver, Alabama
- Houston Texans - Da'Quan Bowers, defensive end, Clemson
- Minnesota Vikings - Jake Locker, quarterback, Washington