With The 12th Pick In The MHR Community Mock NFL Draft....

by John Bena on Apr 2, 2008 4:59 AM MDT

WE HAVE A TRADE!!

That's right, the Broncos and EJRuiz777 have decided to trade down. Who stepped up to get into the Top 12? None other than the Minnesota Vikings and jontollerud. Here are the details of the trade --

Vikings Get - #12 Pick
Broncos Get - #17 Pick, #73 Pick(3rd Round)

Here are the GM's thoughts on the deal --

Broncos G.M. - EJRuiz777 -- Earlier today I was approched by Jon Tollerud (representative of the Minnesota Vikings in this MHR Community Draft) with a trade offer for the #12 overall pick. Though we were comfortable with our probable selection there, we opted to accept his proposal to trade down to #17 and acquire the #73 pick as compensation. The extra selection replaces the one we previously traded in order to attain DT Marcus Thomas in last year's draft and puts us in a position to snag one of several intriguing prospects that we would otherwise be unable to get at reasonable value. Moreover, we feel as though we'll be able to acquire a useful piece of the puzzle at #17, but we will explore the possibility of trading further down in the first round or even entirely out of it if the right offer were to present itself (I'm looking at you, Dolphins and Falcons!). This was not an easy decision, but I feel as though it is in the best interest of our franchise.

Vikings G.M - jontollerud -- After much deliberation the Vikings were willing to do the trade for a few reasons:

It benefits Minnesota by going up ahead of a few teams that are drafting for the same positions we are.
We already have a third round pick so we don't lose anything too horrible by trading one away. We can also couple a few of our later picks perhaps and go for another trade with someone else.
it appeals to Denver who originally had the 3rd rounder we are trading to them and ,they get back in the third round which as I said in another post is absolutely something they will want to do because currently there are 66 players that will go between Denver's 2nd and 4th round picks.

With the trade portion handled, let's get to the Vikings pick...

With the 12th pick in the MHR Community Mock NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...

DERRICK HARVEY, DE -- FLORIDA

Vikings G.M. - jontollerud -- This was Hard. I almost didn't want to trade but after looking at other Mock Drafts, Team need for those drafting before us and our personal needs I opted to trade. I could have gone with River (LB, USC) as well but found that our pass rush was much more in need from the front three than the back four. Also Harvey is a machine at 6'4" 271lbs., and looked very solid at the combine as well as during the past two years. He was a huge part of Florida's Nation Championship Game Win, as he sacked the elusive Troy Smith Twice in the Game. With 49 total tackles, 17 Tackles for Loss, 8.5 Sacks, 3 hurries 1 forced fumble and 5 passes defended in 07 to follow up his stellar sophomore year performance ( http://www.cfbstats.com/2006/player/235/77199/index.html ), This seems to be a logical choice for a team who need to hurry up the QB and scare a few RB's into hiding. This should pan put to be a wonderful pick for us and I truly hope this is the first of many picks this year with Championship Caliber TEAM written all over it. No one player can make a Championship Team, but Harvey is one of the many pieces we feel fits in the Viking Puzzle.

The Draft So Far --

#1 - Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long, Virginia
#2 - St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long, Michigan
#3 - Atlanta Falcons - DT Glen Dorsey, LSU
#4 - Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
#5 - Philadelphia Eagles(via Trade w/ K.C. Chiefs) - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St.
#6 - New York Jets - DB Leodis McKelvin, Troy St.
#7 - New England Patriots - CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
#8 - Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
#9 - Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
#10 - New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins, USF
#11 - Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma

The Next 5 Picks --

Carolina (7-9) -- Jaxon
Chicago (7-9) -- WCG
Detroit (7-9) -- tbell61
Arizona (8-8) -- Broncofornia
Denver (7-9) -- EJRuiz777

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Comments

That First Pick.

As a Gators fan, I can't help but smile when I see that! Derrick Harvey is an excellent pass rusher and he's just what the Vikings needed. If we hadn't splurged on the position in the draft last year, I'd want him at #12 for the Broncos above all else. He's probably a better player than Jarvis Moss was last year, though Jermaine Cunningham (his bookend at UF last season) might shoot by both of them before it's all said and done. Florida has a great track record producing defensive players at nearly every position, so the pedigree is there, too. Harvey will be missed here in AGAINesville, but he found a good place for him in Viking purple. Nice pick!

by ejruiz on Apr 2, 2008 1:59 PM MDT reply actions

Thanks EJ

like we were disscussing somewhere else, I do think Rivers woudl fit well here too but the only problem is with Udeze(spell?) battling cancer and most of the DE on teh list at age 28 or older they HAVE to 100% address this area before another. with this years depth at LB they can address that in round two or three

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 2, 2008 2:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Good job to both parties

Thanks for representing the team Ejru, and for making a solid trade. I would be happy to see it happen in real life.

And thanks to Jon for being part of a good deal both ways.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 2, 2008 2:32 PM MDT reply actions

So either everyone

Really likes this pick and trade, or no one has been on today.

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 2, 2008 6:48 PM MDT reply actions

good move ejruiz

cough target phillips cough

Denial is a river in Oakland.

by broncodude793 on Apr 2, 2008 8:16 PM MDT reply actions

Tennessee is willing to trade up or down

Just depends on which players at positons of need are taken. I want to realistically portray the needs of the Titans and am not willing to reach very far.

Plus, the Titans have lots of picks throughout the draft, including a complimentary in the 4th, so there are many options.

by Arctic Bronco on Apr 2, 2008 11:07 PM MDT reply actions

ot?

does anyone consider this would be a good spot to pick up the 2nd best offensive tackle in the entire draft? this is generally considered very deep at the ol position, so are #2-#4 basically the same guy? i keep hearing clady's name being thrown around, but most people don't think he will drop to us at #12. chris kuper being mentioned at left tackle is scaring me, i guess

by davecheffy on Apr 2, 2008 11:08 PM MDT reply actions

Williams over Clady

at least for Denver! Williams is more what we are after but I think we should still trade back with all the issues we have. DT and Safety can not be addressed at 12 so we either need to go up for Ellis /Dorsey or down towards Balmer. Safety as I think Ht has said and I agree Is Phillips and a band of #2-5 guys. Phillips is not a top 15 pick so he would be a reach at 12 IMO.That being said ( I know I know MHR its getting old) RIVERS is still available at 12 in most draft with a few taking him for the saints. He is a quality candidate to replace either boss or Niko should injury or retirement happen in the next 3 years. Lots of ways we can go and with such a Oline Draft class with many many many guys projected 2-4th rnd I think we are pretty safe for OT depth

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 3, 2008 12:01 AM MDT up reply actions

Some of what I'm thinking

I like Clady over Williams in terms of fit for our system, but neither one would dissapoint me. Of course, I still favor trading down and getting a steal for OT later in the draft.

I used to be high on Phillips, but his stock has been dropping, and we now have the stop gaps in place from FA to cover us until next year (when several good SAFs are projected to be available in the draft). Here again, if we trade down and get Phillips I'll be ok with that too.

I'm also ok with Balmer.

I know you love Rivers, but I have a lot of faith in K2 from what I've seen, and I think Boss will be alright. I think a draft pick for LB right now would be depth, and we have starter needs right now (like DT, and even WR if you don't buy into Colbert for the #2 spot). There is a higher injury/back-up need on the OL (in my opinion) with Hamilton and Nalen too than there is for LB.

Just my opinion. I think your points are very sound, even if I might differ a little.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 3, 2008 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions

HT

I do agree with a lot of yoru logic. I know Rivers woudl be a dream becuase we do have some good players at LB. My only concern for OT/ OG O whatever is that depth can be addressed later on and we could lose out on some seriously talented D players that will anchor positions we have age at. Other than that you once made the point to stagger our team in terms of retirements which I completely agree with too. If drafting an OT holds true, we have harris/ Kuper/ Pears/ and Draftee all retiring around the exact same time! That raises problems for me. Other than that I am okay with drafting an OT I would personally love to see us trade out for a third rounder and then have our first three picks be Phillips (S) Balmer (DT) and Bennett (WR).

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 3, 2008 2:19 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree

That's why I really would prefer to trade down. Clady is (in my opinion) the top pick that will be available at 12, but he does nothing to stagger retirement. He is only my top choice if we don't trade down. I also don't want to use a very high pick on a LB.

If we trade down we can either get an OT in FA, or get a cheaper OT late that can be either a back-up or a contender. We would still have more picks to get more chances of success in whatever we go after (and DT is crucial).

Your Phillips, Balmer, Bennett wish list looks good to me. While I wrote that Phillips is dropping, and we DO have stop gaps in place, I also wrote that I'd still be ok with him. In fact, if he worked out I'd be VERY ok with him.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 4, 2008 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions

OT

Had I stayed at #12, I would have selcted Ryan Clady of Boise State. I know he's not the mos popular guy here and that OT hasn't been a favoed position to address in the first round, but to be he's a top ten talent in this draft and a good fit in Denver. Honestly, the only top tackle that would be perfect is Jake Long and Chris Williams is certainy acceptable, but at #12, Ryan Cldy would be the best realistic pick. Trading down just made more sense to me becauseof severl reason I won't yet devulge, as well as more obvious ones such as our desire to get more value at DT and more high vlue picks in general.

by ejruiz on Apr 3, 2008 6:43 AM MDT up reply actions

I like this trade.

It would have been better for the Vikings to move upto 15 and get Harvey there, but sometimes you just have to do it.

Orange County is hot. Really! Haven't you seen the weather report?

by amirebram on Apr 3, 2008 2:15 AM MDT reply actions

Harvey to Carolina?

Fox is enamored with Harvey and the Panthers could certainly ffodto take him at #12. Sure, they ould snag Mendenhall (as I projected) or an OT of their choice inthis scenario, but Harvey would stillbe a consideration.

by ejruiz on Apr 3, 2008 6:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Most people

believe that the teams after Denver in the draft up to Minnesota could go any which way but the big consensous (Spell?) is that Harvey is a top tier talent and the teams in front of Minnesota will look really hard at him and probably rip him off the board somewhere after Cincy. Cincy could go Harvey or ellis in which I think the right choice would be ellis if there. If not maybe harveys already off the board

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 3, 2008 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions

I think

I think Arizona and Detroit both need a DE pretty badly.

Minisota has two main needs: DE and WR... then there is QB. I think DB is a smaller need.

Orange County is hot. Really! Haven't you seen the weather report?

by amirebram on Apr 3, 2008 3:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Has anyone Emailed

Jaxon to let him know hes on the clock?

Davis to the Hall! "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." Ronald Reagan

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 3, 2008 9:38 PM MDT reply actions