I don't know why, but this pick (aside from just general solid fit), just feels like a name fit too. When I think 'Viking,' I think names like Jim Kleinsasser. I look at that horned, blond braided logo with the two foot mustache and think to myself: are there any good Viking names in this range?
Have seen WR mocked here quite often, but I think the current corps sans Wallace showed enough to warrant an improvement elsewhere. Darian Thompson from Boise State comes into play here, as well as maybe Cravens from USC.
But none of the above addresses two important things: the long term development of Teddy Two Gloves, and the lack of available Viking names at the position. Whitehair the Viking - I'm in.
For real though... what you're getting with Whitehair is a guy who could theoretically be played all along the line. He's shown he can hang with the big boys, but I think where he really shines is stalling out speed guys from the outside... he faced some GOOD competition this year, and it just seems time after time some of the more explosive guys at the line were just covered in molasses the moment Whitehair got a hand on them... he's got a great feel for that. Couple that with the fact that he'd almost certainly be groomed as a guard in the NFL, and you've got a prospect who can handle tasks across the line - a great asset.
I don't think his overall strength gets highlighted enough in other analysis, maybe because he's not generally the 'biggest' guy out there. I'm in the other camp - he seems very strong, and he works hard on the field and it shows. He gets flagged here and there, but as with most rookies, there's room for improvement.
Now I say this knowing full well what it implies but... of the few remaining OL's I think could sneak in the 1st round (Spriggs, Coleman, Ifedi, Hawkins), Whitehair is actually the one I've seen the least. But it's not because I just haven't watched him... it's because what I saw was enough - and here's what solidifed it:
At the start of this last season, he did an interview in which he was asked who his toughtest assignment has been in his career. He answered that it was Shawn Coleman, Baylor's 6'9 285 lb monster who could also sneak into the first round of this year's draft, too (for the record, Whitehair stands 6'4). Said Cody: "...it makes it very tough for me who is a little undersized at tackle. He's back for another year and maybe we can play him better." And that's exactly what he did - Whitehair helped shut down Oakman skillfully, and allowed only 3 tackles, zero sacks.
There's other film on draft breakdown and you'll see for yourself - there are guys going higher than him, and his combine did not help him: 16 reps in the bench (ouch), which is incredibly surprising given his shorter arm length.
I'm keeping him here for the time being - his film just didn't match up with his combine showing to me. His versatility and day-1 readiness should keep his stock relatively stable, and it would be a great investment for the offense's future and help get an extra squeeze out of Adrian Peterson's twilight seasons (if they do in fact exist... what a freak).