The Minnesota Vikings started their final day of the 2011 NFL Draft by selecting Iowa defensive lineman Christian Ballard, a versatile inside-outside player who had second round grades from most teams.
A recent off-the-field issue, however, cost Ballard an NFL job until the 106th overall pick in the fourth round.
Aside from acquiring another player named Christian in this draft, the Vikes get a unique talent in Ballard. He has the ability to be a strong-side end or an interior defender.
"Right now I think they want me at defensive tackle," Ballard told Vikings.com shortly after he was drafted. "I’m just willing to play wherever they need me to play. Playing both (positions) will give me the opportunity so that I can really take my game to the next level."
Whatever his role will be, Ballard gives the Vikings some much needed depth. The once impenetrable defensive line has been showing signs of wear the past few seasons.
In the fifth round, Minnesota looked for defensive secondary depth with Utah cornerback Brandon Burton.
Burton is a tall, rangy player who excels in tight, press coverage. I like his chances to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and I like his style of playing man coverage. He's an athlete that will learn and grow within the Vikings system.
Minnesota was supposed to have a second fifth round pick, but instead traded it to the Cleveland Browns for two sixth round picks, giving the Vikings a whopping four selections in the second to final round.
The sixth round feast included Arkansas tackle DeMarcus Love, South Florida safety Mistral Raymond, Slippery Rock center Brandon Fusco and Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan.
Love can play a variety of positions along the offensive line, but will probably be developed as a guard. He received second round grades from some draft experts, so this is a great value pick for the Vikings.
Raymond offers solid coverage skills at a position where the Vikings are weak. Plus, he will also contribute on special teams.
Fusco is a risk as a small school prospect, but he's got good size and the right attitude, so the Vikes decided to take a chance on his potential.
Homan was the quarterback of the Ohio State defense. Here, the Vikings are getting an intelligent, instinctive player who, while being somewhat undersized at his position, is fast and could develop into a weak side starter.
Finally, in the seventh round, Arizona defensive end D'Aundre Reed and West Texas A&M receiver Stephen Burton were added to the roster.
Reed projects as a versatile type who could play defensive end or outside linebacker, primarily on running downs.
Burton (yes, the second Burton taken by the Vikings in this draft class) has a lot of natural ability. He has great size and will be comfortable running routes across the middle of the field as well as blocking. He had career numbers in his senior season at West Texas A&M in 2010.
This was a solid final draft day for the Minnesota Vikings. They were able to accumulate a few extra picks via trade and not only addressed the most immediate needs of their team, but also added quality and value with tons of potential on both sides of the football.
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