2014 NFL Draft: What To Watch For On Day 2 For Minnesota

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell begins the draft and puts the Houston Texans on the clock at the start of the 2014 NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Day one of the 2014 NFL Draft is in the books.  Now that we’ve had a night to absorb what happened last night during round one, let’s evaluate where this team is and what we could see Minnesota doing on day two of the event.

The Vikings have two selections coming up today in the 2014 NFL Draft.  Here are the current day two picks for the Minnesota Vikings:

• Round 3 – Pick #8 (#72 overall)
• Round 3 – Pick #32  (#96 overall)

That’s not to say that they will stay put.  One thing we have learned about GM Rick Spielman is that he’s not afraid to wheel and deal to get a guy that he really likes.  Minnesota has more firepower to trade up if he wants (2 5th round picks, a 6th, and a 7th) and will probably use them to grab a player they value if he can pull the trigger on it.

Here are the current positions of need for Minnesota:

• Cornerback – Depth at cornerback is an absolute must in this draft.  Currently, the Vikings have Xavier Rhodes returning as a starter.  Aside from that, Minnesota brought in Captain Munnerlyn.  With guys like Josh Robinson, Marcus Sherels, and Shaun Prater rounding out the group, you can expect more competition to be added.
• Guard – With ZERO guards selected on day one of the 2014 NFL Draft, there is still a ton of talent out there at that position.  While Brandon Fusco came into his own last year with several impressive games, Charlie Johnson continued to disappoint.  Minnesota should look to upgrade or at least bring in competition at the position.
• Running Back – The combination of Matt Asiata and Bradley Randle may be servicable as backups to Adrian Peterson, but there are plenty of impressive guys in this draft that could be a huge upgrade.  After losing Toby Gerhart to the Jaguars this offseason, the Vikings could be looking for another big bodied running back or scat back on day two.
• Safety – Harrison Smith is an excellent starter when healthy, but finding a suitable guy to pair him with has been a struggle for Minnesota.  We’ve seen Andrew Sendejo, Jamarca Sanford, Mistral Raymond, and others try to fill the gap, but it is still an open competition at the spot.  We could see Minnesota taking a safety to add more competition to the position.
• Middle Linebacker – This is another position where it will be an open competition.  Audie Cole, Michael Mauti, and Jasper Brinkley will fight it out for a chance to be the starter this year.  A fresh body could help toughen up that competition and possibly even find a new starter or good backup on day 2 of the draft.
• Offensive Tackle – Minnesota is set for starters, but are in a tough situation in the event of an injury.  Minnesota should be looking for an offensive tackle to bring in as a swing tackle to give rest or be a serviceable backup to either Matt Kalil or Phil Loadholt.  This should be a priority for Minnesota to help secure that offensive line.

So, what do you see for the Minnesota Vikings on day 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft?  Will Minnesota stay put and fill some needs or will the grab a sliding talent that they just can’t resist?  What needs are most important to fill?   Let me know in the comments!