By Luft Krigare

The draft is over and the rookies are getting ready to start their rounds of newcomer briefings to learn what it will be like to be part of the NFL.  The Minnesota Vikings personnel office switches from scouting to contract writing and this is where Rob Brzezinski works his magic and gets our draft picks and rookie free agents signed.  The Vikes drafted 5 players, the smallest draft class in their history, and as of sundown Sunday, and agreed to terms with another 16 rookie free agents, but in the bunch, not a single true offensive tackle. 

Byant McKinnie is in the middle of legal actions for his part in a bar fight in Miami and almost assuredly looking at a suspension from the league for at least a couple of games, if not conviction and jail time.  Ryan Cook played adequately in his first year as a starter but had problems handling speed rushers just like McKinnie on the left side, plus is listed as Matt Birk’s backup.  Depth was thin at best and it looked like in this tackle heavy draft that selecting an OT would be a top priority.  Well, it did not happen.

From coach Childress’ press conference Sunday afternoon comes this:

Q. How do you feel about the offensive tackle position, especially when you consider left tackle Bryant McKinnie’s offseason legal troubles?

A. I’m OK with it. We have Chase Johnson, [who] I believe will be a year better. You have Artis Hicks, who has that swing capability there, and Marcus Johnson. So none of that has changed. Nobody has left us in that regard there and I’d have to say that those five guys played all right last year.”

To me this indicates that he is quite comfortable with going with what we’ve got already on the books.  I wonder if mentioning Chase Johnson first is a subliminal way of indicating his game plan replacement should [more like when] Bryant misses some playing time.

The biggest surprise to me was that we didn’t target an OT in the draft, or felt that there were none left worth drafting once the Vikings were back on the clock.

We picked up John Sullivan of Notre Dame, another smart center [which may indicate that Ryan Cook most likely will spend his career at right tackle] and that was it.  Childress said, “And then the Sullivan kid, we talked to [Notre Dame coach] Charlie Weis today. I like some of the things that he brings to the table. He’s a tough guy, a very smart guy. He’s from Greenwich, Conn., originally. I like what he brings.”

Sullivan was gracious with his comments after being selected a Viking.  “At this point, I’m with a team that I’m incredibly happy to be with,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier with the result of how the draft went and looking at draft stock, up, down, it doesn’t matter to me at this point. I’m on a great team and I’m happy with my situation.”

He also said that he would play anywhere the team needed him when asked about the ability to play guard, but with Matt Birk completing the final year of his contract, Sullivan can be viewed as his replacement.  He is very excited to learn from Birk, the man he will likely succeed.  “I think that’s as great a situation as a young player can have,” Sullivan said. “Matt Birk is an incredible player. He’s someone that I have looked up to for a long time. When it comes to centers in the NFL, he is second to none.”

A bit of trivia over the selection: Sullivan is only the third center ever drafted by the Vikings - Matt Birk in 1998 and Mike Malano in 2000 were the other two.

Then if you look at “round 8”, the signings of the undrafted rookie free agents, the only lineman signed was Drew Radovich T/G of USC.  Scout.com had Radovich listed as their #6 OG which makes me feel a little better, and guard is his natural position even though he was slid over to right tackle his senior year.

That makes just a center and a guard brought in leaving me to think that Childress is a whole lot more comfortable than me with our situation at tackle.  Maybe he and the scouting department are hoping for some June cuts, or even last minute roster cuts in August, but that is a lot of ifs to plan for.  I surely hope for the running game and pass protection that Childress is right, but in the mean time, I want to be the first to welcome the two “big bellies” on the offensive side of the ball.