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Draft Preview: Vikings pick 29th
Posted: Tuesday March 30, 1999 11:22 AM
For the next 29 days, CNN/SI will offer a daily look at one pick from the 1999 draft, finishing with Cleveland. Check back for a new preview each day. The Minnesota Vikings, who tied an NFL record with 15 regular-season wins last year, have the 29th pick, which is their second in the first round since they acquired Baltimore's pick -- the 11th overall -- for quarterback Brad Johnson last month. The Vikings have been hit hard by free agency, especially on defense, where cornerback Corey Fuller signed with the Browns and defensive linemen Derrick Alexander and Jerry Ball are also not expected to return. Reserve defensive tackle Jason Fisk signed with Tennessee, leaving the Vikings' pass rush needing a boost from the draft. The Vikings have arguably done the most of any team in the NFL with their first-round picks in the last five years. Consider Minnesota's first-rounders since 1994 -- receiver Randy Moss, linebacker Dwayne Rudd, defensive end Duane Clemons, defensive end Derrick Alexander, offensive tackle Korey Stringer, cornerback DeWayne Washington and tackle Todd Steussie. Six of the seven are starting for the Vikings (Washington left for Pittsburgh in free agency last year) and the only one of the seven was taken with a pick higher than 16th. Best bets for No. 29 To figure out what Minnesota does with the 29th pick, you first have to get some sense of what they'll do with the 11th. It makes sense that the Vikings will use the 11th pick in some capacity to give the team a quarterback of the future -- Randall Cunningham turns 36 this month, and the team's biggest free-agent interest has been 42-year-old Warren Moon. The biggest question is whether the Vikings will be content to take the best quarterback that falls to them at 11 -- the top four quarterbacks could conceivably be gone by then -- or if they package the 11th pick with something else to move up and take an active role in which quarterbacks they can choose from. The Vikings could package both first-rounders, or throw in a receiver like Jake Reed or Matthew Hatchette -- they're similar enough that it's unlikely both will be back with the team next season.
For now, let's assume the Vikings stay at 29 -- the pick will likely address the new vacancies at cornerback or defensive line. Ohio State's Antoine Winfield is a popular choice, but his height -- generously taken as 5-foot-9 -- would leave the Vikings short in the secondary with him opposite 5-foot-10 Jimmy Hitchcock. Especially considering the number of talented tall receivers in the NFC Central, it would seem the Vikings would want more size in their defensive backfield. Instead, the Vikings might go for a defensive end so they can move Pro Bowler John Randle back to tackle full-time. There are several strong pass rushers targeted for the end of the first round -- Virginia's Patrick Kerney is a former lacrosse player whose stock is rising enough that he probably won't be there at 29, but Florida State's Tony Bryant might be. Bryant's stock has dropped considerably since drawing comparisons to linemate Andre Wadsworth during last season. The Vikings have enough talent on defense to take a riskier pick like this, so pencil in Bryant as Minnesota's second pick in the first round. Click here if you have a question or comment about the upcoming NFL Draft. We'll answer a few questions and publish selected comments once a week between now and April 17.
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