Matt Kalil Looks Like A Top 5 Pick; Could Vikings Pass On Him?

Each of the three candidates would add a huge benefit to a component of their team. It will boil down to whether they most need to upgrade their offensive line, their defense or their passing game.

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The first two picks seem pretty well set in stone and the majority of people believe the Vikings will indeed end up taking Kalil at No. 3. But not everyone thinks the Vikings take Kalil. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted in a mailbag piece that he thinks the Vikings end up passing on Kalil.

If the Vikings don’t take Kalil at No. 3 then it’s possible he falls all the way to the Rams sixth pick. And if the Rams are on the clock and both Kalil and Trent Richardson are on the board, that’s a heck of a decision they’ll have to make.

The graphics on the screen change. Your team’s logo is now featured in one corner of the box. They’re on the clock. Eyes glued to the television, feet rooted in the floor, no amount of discomfort, not even a bladder full of PBR, is moving you for the next two minutes. The card is in, the commissioner steps to the podium. And the pick is ...

Anticipation and realization are the most enjoyable parts of the NFL Draft. Pundits and fans start gaming out scenarios in January. We all fall for a particular player that our team absolutely has to pick, the future of the franchise absolutely depends on it.

The 2012 NFL Combine is well under way in Indianapolis. Things are heating up as the weekend continues, with the first groups banging out their stations and skill drills on the field Saturday.

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Former USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil had an impressive workout at the NFL Combine on Saturday and will certainly maintain his status as the top offensive line prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft. Kalil was one of only three offensive linemen to break the five second mark in the 40-yard dash. The tackle, who’s been adding bulk in the lead up to the draft, weighed in at a hefty 306 pounds but still managed to run the 40 in 4.99 seconds.

Video of Kalil’s 4.99 40-yard dash at NFL.com.

Ryan Kalil is getting ready for the 2012 NFL Draft Combine at API in Phoenix. From there, the former USC Trojan has been publishing a diary to The Sporting News detailing his preparations for the draft. According to Kalil, one of the biggest differences between training at a professional facility and training on campus is the meals. With a regimented diet in place, the offensive tackle has already added 15 pounds to his frame.

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His return would be huge for the Trojans, and not just because he’s huge. He’s projected to be drafted in the top five because he’s good at sports. Had USC not been banned from the postseason this year, the Trojans very well could’ve made the Rose Bowl. If Kalil and one or two key other players return, expect USC to be ranked in the single digits entering the season.

Don’t expect Barkley to return, though. Even Lane Kiffin has all but publicly given up on that.