Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is on record as being interested in moving down from the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but if the team stays put, has a list of three prospects that they'll choose from, Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press reports.
"What you're saying (to the staff) is, 'All these guys have equal ability,'" Spielman said on Thursday. "What do you want? Do you want the receiver? Do you want the tackle? Do you want the corner?'"
The receiver is Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, the tackle is USC's Matt Kalil and the cornerback is Morris Claiboren of LSU. All three are equal on the team's draft board and will be subject to "intense film evaluation" over the weekend.
In my opinion, which won't carry much weight in the Vikings' meeting room, either or three would be a good pick. Christian Ponder could use a wideout like Blackmon, who is a legit No. 1 receiver that will make Percy Harvin and the team's two talented tight ends -- John Carlson, Kyle Rudolph -- even better. Ponder could also use an elite left tackle, which Kalil appears capable of becoming pretty quickly in his career.
The Vikings secondary is a mess as age and injuries caught up to Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin, the latter of whom was released in March. 2009 third round pick Asher Allen hasn't seized a starting role and 2010 second round pick Chris Cook has either been hurt or suspended following an arrest for domestic assault.
Claiborne is a physical, shutdown corner the Vikings could use playing in a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler.
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