The 2018 NFL Draft is behind us, which means a new round of NFL power rankings.
NFL.com's Elliot Harrison put together this week's lineup, and **he slated the Vikings at No. 5**. Harrison wrote:
*The top 10 is stacked with contenders, which should make 2018 darned fun – and the Vikings are right in the mix. They helped themselves immensely by drafting Mike Hughes out of Central Florida at No. [30] overall. *
Harrison said that the key to Minnesota's draft is "how quickly second-round pick Brian O'Neill pans out" and opined that the tackle could work on increasing strength.
*Even if he's slow to develop, this Vikings team is ready to win it all now. It will be nice to see Trae Waynes in uniform again this year. He's enjoyed a heckuva career, and he's coming back for a 16th season. How many corners can play until they're 39 years old? (He'll turn 40 in September.) *
Coming ahead of the Vikings in Harrison's rankings were the Eagles, Rams, Patriots and Jaguars at Nos. 1-4, respectively.
In regards to Minnesota's NFC North Rivals, Harrison pegged Green Bay at No. 9, Detroit at No. 16 and Chicago at No. 24.
Vikings fan fighting cancer receives surprise phone call, special gift
A dedicated Vikings fan in Moorhead, Minnesota, received a special phone call and gift this week, courtesy of his favorite team.
Radio host and *The Forum *columnist Mike McFeely **wrote about Mike Trom**, whom he says is known to local sports talk-radio listeners as "Mike the Viking Fanatic or "Vikings Mike." McFeely wrote:
Mike is having a tough time these days, though. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in October, and doctors have stopped chemotherapy treatments. Mike's wife, Amy, says that while the prognosis was once reasonably optimistic because doctors believed they could manage the tumor, the future now is much more uncertain.
That's when the Vikings stepped in.
According to McFeely, Vikings longtime equipment manager Dennis Ryan called Trom and also sent a "real, honest-to-goodness Vikings helmet, along with a handwritten letter and some other goodies."
*"Thank you for your support for all these years," Ryan wrote. "The Vikings are very lucky to have great fans such as yourself. You are the best! I am very sorry to hear of your condition. I pray for your comfort and peace." *
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Trom's wife said the area's biggest Vikings fan was "ecstatic" after speaking with Ryan and receiving the package. Mike even tried on the helmet and posed for some photos.
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Conklin says Vikings offense 'fits really well'
The Vikings added eight new players through the NFL Draft and agreed to terms with an additional 17 players who were undrafted free agents.
One of Minnesota's draft selections was fifth-round TE Tyler Conklin.
George Pohly of The *Morning Sun ***spoke to Conklin, along with his parents and coaches**, following the biggest day of his life thus far.
Conklin told Pohly that it was "a dream come true" to be selected by an NFL team.
"I was very anxious. It's a lifelong dream for all of us," Conklin's mother, Diana, said.
Pohly wrote:
Some close to Conklin thought he might be drafted by Dallas with the final pick in the fourth round, but the Cowboys took Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz, a pick that drew groans in the garage.
When former Lions kicker Jason Hanson announced Detroit's fifth-round selection was Tyrell Crosby of Oregon, some guests gasped after Hanson said the first syllable of Crosby's first name – but it was another "Ty" who became a Lion.
One pick after Denver nabbed Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli, the Vikings ended the suspense.
A former high school basketball coach of Conklin's, Jay Seletsky, told Pohly that "it was a relief" to hear the tight end's name called.
"He's a great kid who has meant so much to our community," Seletsky said. "The things he's doing now, how he's grown, the decisions he has made, I couldn't be more proud."
