Mel Kiper Releases First Mock Draft Of 2015

For 28 of the 32 NFL teams, it's officially draft season, and that can only mean one thing. Yes, it's time to hear from ESPN's own Mel Kiper. . .dramatic pause. . .draft expert. Yes, the man with the hair has released his first Mock Draft of the 2015 off-season, and he has the Minnesota Vikings going in a direction that seems to be a popular one this early in the process, as he has the purple and gold tabbing Louisville Cardinals wide receiver DeVante Parker with the 11th pick of the first round.

Here's Kiper's reasoning behind the selection:

Teddy Bridgewater showed he can be the long-term answer at quarterback if his development continues, and while there are also questions along the offensive line, Parker is a tantalizing talent at this point, as I think some teams will have him graded as the best receiver in this draft class once they've wrapped up evaluations. This is A.J. Green lite, and he's not that lite. Parker doesn't just have the leaping ability and length to go up and get it and beat even longer defensive backs at the catch point, he can create space with his short-area explosiveness underneath. Teddy needs another weapon. Here he is.

Wide receiver is among the list of needs for the Vikings. How high on the list it should be is a discussion for another time, but a reunion for Bridgewater and Parker would go a long way towards helping the Minnesota offense.

Kiper mentions the offensive line as a need for the Vikings, and he has two offensive linemen going before Minnesota's pick, as he has Iowa tackle/guard Brandon Scherff going to the New York Giants at #9 and Pitt offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings going to St. Louis at #10.

We're still over 100 days away from the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago. . .not New York, remember. . .so there will be plenty of speculation between now and then. But Parker is the pick from Mel Kiper for now. Here's some DeVante Parker highlights for you to enjoy.