Wide Receiver Michael Floyd to Meet with Vikings + Why Minnesota Should Draft Him at Number 3

Could the Minnesota Vikings be looking at taking a wide receiver at number 3 in the looming NFL Draft? For a time, Justin Blackmon out of Oklahoma State looked to be the target for the Vikings; and although that prospect hasn't been eliminated, offensive tackle Matt Kalil has been the choice of reason for most prognosticators through much of the offseason.

Fuel is being added to the fire that a wideout could still be a target for Minnesota, as a meeting between the Vikings and Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd has been set up for next week. The Vikings aren't on a short list of teams Floyd will be visiting, however, having already met with the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles. He also is scheduled to meet with the Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals this week; and the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings next week.

Floyd and Blackmon are slated to be the top two wide receiver picks, and both of them are predicted to be picked in the top 15 spots by most draft experts. With the Vikings holding the number 3 overall pick, and both the Colts and Redskins looking like they are going to draft quarterbacks, the Vikings currently have the pick of the litter in filling one of the many holes the team has.

The old saying is that the battle is won in the trenches, and locking up Matt Kalil to secure the Vikings offensive line for the next several years would certainly be a positive move. This would give Christian Ponder extra protection and in turn extra time to find an open target. On the flipside of this chicken or the egg scenario, picking up a top-flight receiver like Michael Floyd would give the Vikings that downfield threat to compete in a league where lots of passing seems to be the key to winning (see Packers and Saints).

Although a long term solution on the offensive line would be a good team-building move, it seems to me like it would be easier to find a serviceable lineman over a serviceable wide receiver. The Vikings have tried the serviceable wide receiver route with Bernard Berrian, Greg Camarillo, Michael Jenkins, and several others, and none have really panned out to be "the guy" the Vikings are looking for. Yes, it is possible we could see another Troy Williamson-like bust, but that's the gamble of the draft. Matt Kalil could decide to pursue a music career and eat a lot of Doritos like an unnamed left tackle that was released by the Vikings not that long ago. You just never truly know what you're getting until you have them in your uniform and on the field.

Taking a wide receiver, and more specifically Michael Floyd, would do a lot more for the team beyond adding a potential top-flight target on offense. Someone like Floyd will sell tickets and create support as not only a big name, but also as a Minnesota native. Imagine the Vikings having their own version of a Joe Mauer, the beloved hometown hero. A move like that would keep fan interest up through another season if the team suffers mediocrity on the field, giving them time to make a few more moves and further build the team through the next offseason. On the flipside, taking Kalil at number 3 does very little for fan excitement unless he plays a major role in making sure Ponder is able to succeed with the current roster of receivers.

On top of everything else, Adrian Peterson is coming off a severe knee injury. Currently, everyone in the know says his recovery progress is excellent, but it has been said time and time again that it is hard to recover mentally from that type of injury. Even if he is physically cleared to start the 2012 season, he may not be mentally ready to go when things kick off. Having a weapon like Floyd to offset that loss would be a big asset to stay competitive.

What will ultimately happen? I guess we'll just have to wait a few weeks to see.