Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, It’s unofficially official. The Minnesota Vikings are actively pursuing a deal that would allow them a selection in the top half of the first round in this Thursdays draft. Now throughout these past few weeks, while I was going over all the different scenarios that could take place before they make their first choice, this is the one I most wanted to see come to fruition. I also figured there was pretty much no chance the Vikings would try to move up, i guess that just really didn’t strike me as a Speilman type of move. That is until i heard a guy on TV say it. That’s right, NFL Networks own Ian Rapoport says the Vikes are indeed trying to move up with hopes of targeting either  WR Tavon Austin, or WR Corrdarelle Patterson, both of whom have the potential to add instant explosion in the pass game. It’s also reported that the Vikings would like to hold on to their 25th pick while doing so. While I would obviously be more than pleased to see either one of these guys in purple come Thursday, I wouldn’t even target a WR if this were Jordan’s world. No, i would have only one player in mind if  I pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal involving, lets say,  the 23rd over all this year, a 3rd rounder this year, and an additional mid-rounder in 2014. That player is Dee Milliner, CB,  Alabama. That’s right. Now I know corner isn’t the most pressing need for the team, but I think this kid is by far the most promising and exciting player in this years draft, and also the best DB I can remember coming out of college in recent years. I think the kids got all the talent of  a Darelle Revis, but the size of a Richard Sherman. This kid is pretty much a lock to go in the top 5 , and I doubt the Vikes will get anywhere near that high, but like I said, this is Jordan’s world. Now back in real life I guess we just wait and see where the cards fall, but no matter what I know I am very excited to see what Speilman and Co. have in store for us on Thursday.

SKOL

Jordan Nadel

September 8, 2012; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (21) celebrates after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. The California Golden Bears defeated the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 50-31. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Keenan Allen was supposed to be one of the surer bets among this year’s wide receiver class. Everyone knew he wasn’t blazing fast but he had the hands and the polished skills and the route-running and the size and everything else you might need. He would not be the first receiver taken, you had to figure, but he would be a solid first round pick.

But things haven’t gone well for Allen since the end of the college season. In fact his problems started before the end of the season when he injured his knee. Questions about that knee persisted into the offseason. He was forced to skip all the combine workouts and did only limited work at Cal pro day. And when he finally did run for scouts, his 40 time was in Manti Te’o territory. Which isn’t good news.

You wouldn’t have thought things could look much worse for Allen after that. But they got worse. We have now learned that Allen was red flagged for a drug test at the combine after a suspicious amount of water showed up in his sample. His agent is spouting the usual denials but the red flag is there nonetheless. Teams now have that to factor into their process as well. Some draftniks have this guy sliding well into the second.

You could argue this is actually good news for the Vikings. If they want this guy, they can probably wait until the late second and still get him, and use their two firsts on defense. But do the Vikings even still have this guy on their board? We know character is a big deal for Rick Spielman and the gang. At least they keep saying it is. The drug test is certainly not a check mark in the “pro” category. And there’s the speed issue and the knee issue.

Lots of issues suddenly for a guy who once looked like a slam dunk first rounder.

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Oct 12, 2012; Starkville, MS, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State won 41-31. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

Looking to start an argument among draftniks? Just throw out the name Cordarrelle Patterson. Opinion is so divided on this guy right now. Many are so down on him they’re convinced he’s dropped entirely out of the first round. Then there are people like Evan Silva of Rotoworld. Silva is convinced that Patterson is a major talent just waiting to destroy NFL defenses. Silva tweeted about Patterson’s potential on Thursday afternoon. He said:

Teams that worry about Cordarrelle Patterson’s routes should find easier ways to get him ball. Use inside numbers. Will destroy after catch.

He added:

If you don’t think he can get open on his own, scheme him open. Just get him the rock and he’ll rip big plays & score. Insane ability.

Very interesting remarks from Silva. Because the knock on Patterson is that he’s not a polished route-runner and therefore not a viable outside receiver despite his major physical tools. In the minds of detractors this guy is a project at best and a bust-in-waiting at worst. But Silva has a different take. He thinks this guy can kill it right out of the gate, if only he is used right. Not as an outside guy but an over-the-middle Percy Harvin-type x-factor.

So how might Patterson, with all his pros and cons, fit into the picture for Minnesota? My own feeling up till now has been that the Vikings should stay away from this guy. The Vikings need a polished outside receiver like Keenan Allen or DeAndre Hopkins who can step right in and complement what they already have on the roster. That’s been my thinking. But Silva’s remarks have given me pause. Are the knocks against Patterson legit? Is this guy no better than a second rounder? Or is this player so talented that you have to take him if given the chance? Even in the first round? And could Patterson step in right away and contribute in Bill Musgrave’s offense?

The key to this is Musgrave. Fans seem to hate this guy but I think he gets too much scorn. I think Musgrave deserves a lot of credit for the way he adjusted his approach last year in the face of certain realities. The way he handled Percy Harvin shows his willingness and ability to take a unique talent and try to maximize it. He figured out pretty quickly that Percy is not a traditional downfield receiver. So what did he do? He designed an array of plays that allowed Percy to catch the ball short and then use his running back-like skills to gain yardage. Maybe it didn’t always work perfectly but that was less on Musgrave and more on the roster. Had the Vikings possessed a legit outside-the-numbers receiver to complement Harvin? The offense would’ve been much better for it, and Musgrave would’ve received much less criticism.

Laugh if you want but I trust Bill Musgrave when it comes to creativity. I think he could take a talent like Cordarrelle Patterson – if Silva is indeed right about him – and get something out of him right away. Musgrave is flexible and he would find ways to get Patterson the ball, just like he did with Harvin. The big difference with Patterson would be the presence of Greg Jennings. Jennings may not be a true deep target but he knows how to work outside the numbers. He and Patterson would potentially complement each other beautifully. Patterson would not be exactly a Harvin analogue but he would be something in the same area. An x-factor player who would force defenses to adjust.

The thinking all along has been that the Vikings must find a traditional split end to complement Greg Jennings. But maybe that thinking is too safe. Maybe the better course of action is to take a leap of faith and draft a guy with tremendous upside who doesn’t fit the clear mold of the #1 receiver. Put some trust in Musgrave’s creativity. Give him tools to work with and watch him build an offense. What would Musgrave do with Patterson? I don’t know. But I bet he’d figure something out. And that’s why I now think Patterson is a guy you have to look out for. This guy may be too good to pass up.

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