The 2012 NFL Draft will arrive sooner than you think. The USC Trojans are expected to have at least one player selected in the first round and likely two.
Left tackle Matt Kalil and defensive end/outside linebacker Nick Perry are both being projected for selection within the top fifteen overall picks, according to the website New NFL Draft.
More: Check out SB Nation's latest NFL mock draft.
Kalil is expected by most to be selected by the St. Louis Rams as the second overall draft, behind only Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. New NFL Draft has a different take, however, suggesting that the Rams might instead opt for a wide receiver, allowing the Minnesota Vikings to cash in on the consensus No. 1 offensive tackle in this year's draft. Here's what they have to say:
This year has been a disappointment for the Vikings. However, it hasn't been all bad because Christian Ponder has shown flashes that he is going to be the QB of the future for the Vikings. Additionally they have looked ok at time on both offense and defense. With this selection I think they could go 1 of a couple ways.. first off I think they could go with one of the top tiered skilled players such as Morris Claiborne as a CB or Alshon Jeffery as a Wider Receiver. With this being said I think they need a Left Tackle of the future and Kalil would be this player fo the Vikings in the 2012 NFL Draft.
The site also has high hopes for USC pass rusher Nick Perry, whom they rank as the No. 1 outside linebacker in the draft's class of 2012. They foresee Perry winding up as the No. 11 pick and going to the Kansas City Chiefs. They elaborate:
In this 2012 NFL mock draft the Kansas City Chiefs take a good defensive player to continue building on their already good defense. I previously had them taking a QB in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft and picking much higher but now they are out of the top 10 and the top tier QB's seem to all be gone. However, due to the fact that they keep winning games and I see a few more wins in their future I have moved them down in this 2012 NFL Mock Draft.
For all news and information regarding the USC Trojans, please visit Conquest Chronicles. To connect with Vikings fans, head on over to Daily Norseman. For perspective on the Kansas City Chiefs, check out Arrowhead Pride.