After filling needs on both sides of the ball on the first two days of the draft, the Vikings continued that trend in the 4th round.
Well, sort of. With the 23rd pick in the 4th round, the Vikings selected WR Jarius Wright from Arkansas. Wright had a monster year in 2011, catching 66 passes for over 1,100 yards and 12 TD's. In a conference call with reporters, he says he is best on the inside, playing the slot, and I envision that's what the Vikings see him doing in Minnesota.
Wright is fast, has sure hands, and will help create mismatch problems going against nickel or dime corners on the inside, and he should be able to open up space underneath for Percy Harvin, or the two tight ends, John Carson and Kyle Rudolph.
Wright also shows value as a returner, and with the Vikings looking to limit Percy Harvin's special teams play, Wright will probably compete for a job as a punt or kick returner.
The 33rd pick was tight end Rhett Ellison, a product of USC. This was the first real head scratcher for the Vikings, as it seemed defensive line or linebacker was more of a priority. I'm not sure what the Vikings were thinking with this pick, but if you're going to take a risk on a player, better the 4th round than the first, amirite 2005 draft? Ellison was primarily a blocking TE at Southern Cal, so it looks like he could slide into an open competition at fullback, which the Vikings currently have 48** of on the roster. You see, as we all know here, you can never have too many fullbacks.
Say it with me, kids: MOAR FULLBACK!!!!
Finally, the last pick in the 4th round for the Vikings was WR Greg Childs, also from Arkansas. Childs is a big kid, 6"3', and had an inconsistent 2011, only catching 21 passes. But he suffered a torn patella in 2010, and spent most of last year fighting through that. Prior to his injury, he put up impressive numbers, catching 46 and 48 passes in the two years previous, and had almost 900 yards receiving in 2009. He's kind of a risk-reward kid, but if he's healthy, he could turn into a good move the chains, possession-type receiver along the lines of Michael Jenkins.
So with four rounds in the books, the Vikings have addressed receiving needs, but still need to look at LB and DB as we head into the late rounds. They still have 6 picks, so trade maneuvering is still very possible. Keep it right here on Daily Norseman, as we'll keep you updated on all the moves the Vikings make throughout the day.