2015 NFL Mock Draft: With The Eleventh Pick, The Minnesota Vikings Select...

With the specter of Adrian Peterson hanging over everything he does, Puma028 makes the Vikings' first round pick in the 2015 Battle Red Blog Mock Draft.

With the 11th pick in the 2015 BRB Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select DeVante Parker (WR--Louisville).

This pick has the potential to go so many different directions. The Vikings could use upgrades at LB, OL, WR, and RB, especially with the uncertainty around Adrian Peterson. The defense will work itself out, as that is Head Coach Mike Zimmer’s forte. He is off to a great start in that department, as he has taken the Vikings from 31st in yards allowed and giving up 30 points per game in 2013 to 14th and giving up only 19.2 ppg this past season.  If the real Vikings look to defense, someone like Trae Waynes would fill a huge need, especially in a division known for passing offenses.

The real issue for Minnesota is the offense. Scoring only 20.3 points per game is rough on its own, but coupled with the fact that they share a division with the Packers and Lions makes points that much more valuable. A workhorse back such as Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon would make a lot of sense, but this is a decent draft for running backs, so I’d look at the likes of Duke Johnson or Ameer Abdullah in the 2nd round.

For the sake of 2015, we’re going receiver. There are several lights out candidates in this draft and the one we’re taking is DeVante Parker from Teddy Bridgewater’s alma mater, Louisville. There is something to be said for a good rapport between QB and WR, and after playing together for 3 seasons and connecting over 100 times for almost 2,000 yards, it is safe to say that Bridgewater and Parker know each other very well.

The Vikings brought in Mike Wallace and are hoping that Cordarrelle Patterson can bounce back from a subpar sophomore season, but there is no denying that a receiver who caught 43 passes for 855 yards and 5 touchdowns in only 6 games will find a place on the field. Figuring that Parker has great size at 6’3", 209 lbs, legit mid-4.4 speed, a 36.5" vertical, and toughness to spare, he has the look and makeup of a surefire #1 receiver and the potential to be something more. With the passing attack that this pick could give the Vikings, a running game that won’t have to rely on AP if they draft RB wisely this year (see above), focusing on taking a good OL in the middle rounds (think Tre Jackson, Cedric Ogbuehi, or Rob Havenstein) and Mike Zimmer doing Zimmerly things on defense, the Minnesota Vikings have the potential to be very good for a very long time.

I can think of one person who would applaud this move. His name is Teddy Bridgewater.  Okay, two people.  Brett Kollmann has gone on record with his love of Parker. Maybe three people, if you like the pick. Alright, four, I guess, because I dig the selection. I'm not good at math.

How things have gone so far:

The Titans, via Huggy The Bear, are now on the clock. Or they would be, if they hadn't already turned in the pick. Check back late this afternoon to see who the Titans--remember, Tennessee traded back from the second overall pick in this mock draft--decided to fake add to their real roster.

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