Mel Kiper and Todd McShay Release New Mock Drafts

As we get closer to the NFL Combine, we're starting to see more mock drafts come out, and two of the bigger names in the NFL Draft game have released new iterations of their mock drafts.

Todd McShay and Mel Kiper of ESPN.com have put out their new forecasts today, and they have the Vikings going in very different directions. We'll start with McShay, who has the Vikings addressing their defense early on, having them select Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley with the eighth overall selection. Here's what McShay had to say about him.

If there's anything that keeps Mosley out of the first half of the first round, my guess is it would be concerns about his durability (he's had significant shoulder, hip and elbow injuries in the past), but it's hard not to fall in love with his performance on tape. He was highly productive at Alabama, and set the tone for that defense with his motor and aggressive play. In addition to his outstanding cover skills, he's very disruptive when turned loose as a pass-rusher. He'd be a good fit in Minnesota as the Vikings' weakside linebacker.

We know that the Vikings' linebacker corps was a disaster this past season, and really needs some shoring up. Mosely was the best player on a very good Crimson Tide defense and would (obviously) immediately step in and start. In McShay's scenario, he has three quarterbacks off the board (Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel, and Blake Bortles) off of the board by the time the Vikings select at #8.

On the other hand, Kiper has one of those quarterbacks falling to Minnesota at their spot, as he has the purple selecting Blake Bortles.

The Vikings lack any sense of certainty at the QB position. While I think Bortles will have a bit of a learning curve because he needs to gain much greater consistency with his ball placement, he has tremendous physical upside, with a big frame that can really move, which will provide an added dimension to help the offense move the ball as the passing aspect steadily improves. Can Bortles start right away for a team that wants to take a step forward? i think that's a question for the process.

If the Vikings take Bortles at #8, there isn't going to be a whole lot of "process" about whether or not he's going to start right away, particularly in light of Matt Cassel voiding the last year of his deal. If the Vikings take Blake Bortles with the eighth overall pick, he's the guy. Period. Kiper has Manziel and Bridgewater off the board (in that order) before Bortles in his scenario.

One with an offensive pick and one with a defensive pick. What do you think about the selections by Mel Kiper and Todd McShay in their most recent mock drafts?