2014 NFL Draft: Peter King Likes Aaron Donald for Vikings

Dec 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Aaron Donald (97) during the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ford Field. Pittsburgh Panthers defeated Bowling Green Falcons 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Last week Peter King said he thought the Vikings would be the best fit for QB Blake Bortles, but also said that he didn’t believe the Vikings would take a quarterback at 8.

King is sticking to his guns as we near zero hour. In Monday’s MMQB, King reiterated his belief that the Vikings will address their QB need later in the draft, and speculated that they will go defense with the #8 pick.

Specifically, King said he thinks the Vikes will go for a “front-seven disruptor,” and mentioned Pittsburgh DT Aaron Donald.

Donald has come up a lot in recent weeks in connection with the #8 pick. He is seen by many as the best 3-tech in the draft and a great fit for Mike Zimmer’s defense.

The Vikings currently have Sharrif Floyd penciled in as their starter at 3-tech, but concerns about Floyd’s conditioning and scheme fit have cast his future in doubt.

If the Vikings do elect to go non-QB with the #8, Donald might well be the best value defensive player available to them. If they trade down, it brings a bunch of other players into the discussion including linebacker C.J. Mosley, cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

And that is why many believe a trade down would be the best move for Rick Spielman. With so many stud prospects at the top of the draft, a trade down should be do-able.

If the trade doesn’t happen, Donald could very well be the pick, even if that goes against some people’s assumptions about the Vikings’ “needs.”

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