Draft Day 2: What Oh What Will the Vikings Do?

Yesterday’s trade with the Lions left the Vikings holding 9 draft picks, including 2 each in the 2nd, 5th and 7th rounds. And if yesterday’s action is any indication, some of those picks could end up being traded as well.

The Vikings could swing more deals to accumulate more picks, or they could put together a package for an established player…possibly Albert Haynesworth, whose name keeps coming up despite reports from yesterday that the Vikings would not deal for the disgruntled Redskins DT.

If the Vikings do elect to use their first pick of Friday, the 2nd pick in the 2nd round, there will be plenty of enticing players there for them to take.

Indications are that, despite the signing of Lito Sheppard, the Vikes are still looking to strengthen their secondary. According to reports, the Vikes wanted to take CB Patrick Robinson after their trade with Detroit, but the Saints blew the plan up by taking him #32 overall.

If cornerback is still on the Vikings’ mind, the top guy would seem to be Chris Cook of Virgina. Then there’s stud safety Taylor Mays of USC, a guy many thought would’ve been a Top 10 pick had he come out a year earlier.

Cook seems to make more sense for the Vikes given their immediate needs, but Mays may be too impressive a talent to pass up.

Of course there’s also Jimmy Clausen, whose tumble through and out of the first round became one of the draft’s big storylines. At this point, it looks like the Vikes are not interested in drafting a future franchise quarterback, but again, if a guy with Clausen’s talent is sitting there, you have to at least consider grabbing him.

There are other guys the Vikes could look at too. At defensive tackle, there’s Terrence Cody, Linval Joseph and Brian Price. At defensive end, Carlos Dunlap and Everson Griffen are available. The Vikes could opt to add to Brett Favre‘s arsenal of weapons by drafting wide receiver Golden Tate.

Maybe the smartest move would be to snap up an offensive lineman. Vladimir Ducasse, a projected borderline first-rounder at either tackle or guard, is sitting there if the Vikes elect to do so.

The draft resumes this evening at 6 ET. We won’t have to wait long to see what happens with the Vikes, as they hold the 2nd pick. I’m sure numerous rumors will surface between now and then. And if the servers hold out, I may even get to post on some of them.