Hold Your Trojans: Schefter Says Matt Kalil to Minnesota is No Lock

Anything that’s been suggested other than Matt Kalil to the Vikings at this point has been a near outrage, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a man who’s word I trust in football more than most others, doesn’t think Kalil is a lock to the Vikings, even if the team stays put at its current third overall pick. Here’s what he said in his mailbag on ESPN.com (Insider access required):

“The key to that would be Minnesota passing on Kalil, which I happen to believe the Vikings will. I’m in the minority there, and the Vikings are still deciding what to do, but I don’t think Kalil is the lock that others do — even if Minnesota stays at No. 3.”

There is really no indication given here what the Vikings would do if not go for Kalil with that third pick, mainly since the question is about another  team, but it would be interesting to see how far he would fall if the Vikes do intend to pass on him, regardless of whether or not they keep that third overall pick.

I don’t think Trent Richardson is an option for the Vikings, though I really didn’t see Adrian Peterson as an option in 2007 either after Chester Taylor had a huge year the year before. I don’t think Justin Blackmon’s value is really good at that pick, but maybe the Vikings are looking to trade down and take a local kid, a guy who became a star at Notre Dame: Wide receiver Michael Floyd.

Floyd is from the Twin Cities area, and was a phenomenal prospect coming out of high school. He could be an intriguing fit for a team that needs additional targets in the passing game equally as bad as it needs a left tackle. The philosophy always says to build from the inside out, but if the Vikes can obtain some extra picks and move down to a team that likes Ryan Tannehill, they might feel like they can afford to pass on Kalil and get a guy in the second or third round to start at tackle.

I’m not sure I agree with that theory, but it’s definitely out there and Schefter has to have it on good authority that Minnesota is not locked in on Kalil with that third pick, which I had already assumed otherwise.