NFL Draft 2013: Minnesota Vikings Select Sharrif Floyd No. 23 Overall

The Minnesota Vikings got rid of Percy Harvin to acquire a second first round pick, but what that does is allow the Vikings to strategize what they do. Everyone knows the Vikings need to go defense and get help there but the most glaring need was at wide receiver and it was largely believed that the Minnesota would go with a wide receiver with one of their picks, but it was a mystery as to which pick they’d use to improve the position.

But while Manti Te’o was an option at this pick, the Vikings were gifted with a steal when Sharrif Floyd slid all the way out of the top 10 into the 20s. Floyd was at one point projected to be a top 5 pick, with some mocking him as the third overall pick in the draft. But thanks to the whirlwind of trades and activity in the top half of the draft, Floyd fell victim to the draft slide and took a tumble.

But the Vikings need a defensive tackle and Floyd was an absolute gift at 23rd overall. Minnesota could have gone a lot of ways with the pick but they ultimately went with Floyd which was the right move.

Now the Vikings can focus on shoring up either their linebacking corps or take a wide receiver like Cordarrelle Patterson who has also taken a tumble in the draft.