The Vikings pick 23d in the first round of the draft. Their two biggest needs are, in order, a # 1 wide receiver and linebackers. Some of the writers who follow the team think that LB is a bigger need than WR, because two of the team's three starting LBs, OLB Erin Henderson and MLB Jasper Brinkley, will be UFAs on March 12. Neither one is above average and Brinkley, in particular, does not fit well into the Vikes' defensive scheme.
Those who identify WR as a higher need point to the legitimate fact that the team has invested a ton in QB Christian Ponder, who has started here for almost two full seasons, and yet we aren't sure how good he can be because the Vikes' arsenal (term being loosely defined!) of wide outs is pathetic, slot receiver Percy Harvin notwithstanding. However, this year's draft is extremely deep in wide receivers. There are 38 of them invited to the combine, and the Vikings can probably count on a very good one being available when their turn comes up in the second round.
Finally (and most importantly?), the Vikings brass and coaching staff like Domers. John Sullivan, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson (unproductive last year) and Robert Blanton are all wearing purple.
Given Teo's mid-first round grade/prediction squaring up with the Vikings' spot at # 23, it's not hard to picture him patrolling the field next year alongside the Vikings' best LB, Chad Greenway.
