His name is Joe Webb. He was drafted in the sixth round this year out of Alabama-Birmingham to maybe be a wide receiver. Then everyone realized what a great arm he has – he did play quarterback in college – and Brad Childress decided to give him a shot behind center.

His OTA and minicamp sessions at QB were impressive. So impressive that, now, he’s being hailed as not only the best young QB talent to arrive in Minnesota since Daunte Culpepper, but the most likely man to take the reins once Brett Favre finally decides to limp off into the sunset.

All based on a few practice throws. No blitzes in his face. No shifting alignments or crafty defensive backs trying to deke him. No Saints linemen attempting to take out his ankles.

A handful of tosses executed under no duress whatsoever might not be enough proof of excellence for some people, but it’s more than enough for Sid Hartman, who has proclaimed Webb “a superb quarterback.”

In support of his Webb-hyping, Hartman quotes Vikings VP of Player Personnel Rick Spielman talking about one of the quarterback’s greatest attributes:

His hands — what we do, is when we measure these guys, we try to measure all of their body parts. We measure their arm length, we measure their hand length, and his hand is one of the biggest hands coming out of the draft this year.

His hands are 11 inches long. How we measure them is from the tip of the thumb all the way out to the end of the pinky, and he, by far, has tremendous sized hands.

And, I’m guessing, a bone-crushing handshake grip.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m sold. The Vikings don’t even have to bother drafting a quarterback next year. Joe Webb is the guy.

Five years from now, no one will be talking about Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow. And all the teams that passed on Webb will be kicking themselves in the pants.

Oh, and all those folks who doubted Brad Childress’ ability to draft and develop a young quarterback? They won’t have much to say, I’m guessing. Not after they see Webb hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, with Chilly and Spielman and the still-living Sid Hartman laughing by his side.

Actually, I don’t know why the Vikings are even bothering to wait for Brett Favre. Cut the old man loose and give the team to Webb right now. And watch him pick us up in those monster hands of his and carry us all to the promised land.

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.

Many had speculated the Vikings would indeed trade out of the first round entirely, given the lack of an obvious big-time guy to fill one of their needs.

Others thought the Vikes might take sliding quarterback Jimmy Clausen. But, like every other team in the first round, the Vikes are apparently not that impressed with what Clausen brings to the table.

So, now the Vikings will draft twice in the second round, once early, once late. They also add an extra fourth round pick from Detroit.

And all that anticipation will transfer over till tomorrow, when the Vikes will finally make their first selection.

Dang, the draft sure is boring when you finish as one of the top 3 teams. I envy all those loser teams who got to pick way up in the top spots.