FanHouse

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

As the 2008 first-round rolls around, Vikings fans will have one main hope: Please let Derrick Harvey fall to No. 17. Minnesota needs a defensive end desperately. Minnesota's defensive ends struggled last year, and that was before it was learned that Kenechi Udeze had leukemia. Minnesota tried repeatedly to sign an impact defensive end in free agency, but they struck out on Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Jevon Kearse.

The team has lacked a consistent pass rush over the past two seasons, which is a big reason the pass defense has struggled. Harvey would fill that need perfectly, but unfortunately for the Vikings, in this mock draft, Harvey is a Panther, leaving Minnesota with few good options.

Merling is not really worthy of the No. 17 pick, especially now that he's battling a sports hernia injury, but he is the best defensive end left on the board, and the need is that great. Merling works hard, has a good set of pass rush moves and will give the Vikings an honest effort every week. What he lacks is that game-changing speed/athleticism that gives left tackles nightmares. But on a Vikings defense with defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams eating up double teams, Merling will get lots of single blocking, which should help free him up to create havoc.


If the Vikings are worried about Merling's injury, the best other defensive ends are Quentin Groves and Calais Campbell. But Groves is undersized for a defensive end--he may be more of a situational pass rusher, which is less than you are looking for in a first-round pick. The much bigger Campbell is more of a strong-side end with less pass-rushing skills, which makes him sound like nearly every other defensive end already on the Vikings roster.

The Skinny:
Team Needs - DE, S, CB, QB, WR
Player Selected - Phillip Merling, DE
Also Considered - Quentin Groves, DE; DeSean Jackson, WR.

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