Vikings' 'Top 30' pre-draft invitees begin arriving today

During that intense nine-day preparation period (which the team calls its "lockdown" period), the Vikings will determine just how far down they can trade and still come up with what they call a "blue" player. A "blue" player is one they project as an eventual Pro Bowler. A "red" player is one they project as a starter.

"The thing you have to be careful about is once we get all these guys graded and you're in that blue range where we're picking, how far do you trade back before you're out of that blue area and into the red?" Spielman said. "Now, if a deal is too good to pass up and you're going to get `X' amount of draft picks that are going to set you up for your future, not only this year but down the road, you also have to consider that, too. That's how you look at this thing: how far do you go back and do you pass a possibly a blue to get as many picks as you can. That's tough, but on the other side, you can really set up your organization for the future. Similar to what St. Louis did with [trading the No. 2 pick to] Washington." Although it's still possible the team could add a free agent over the next three weeks, Spielman said the team's focus clearly has shifted to the draft. No free agent visits are planned at this time. Regardless of what the Vikings do with the No. 3 pick, the excitement level is high at Winter Park right now. (Although they'd obviously prefew it not be this high again next April). "You never want to be 3-13, but it gives you a pretty good advantage to give your ballclub some pretty good players to come in immediately and contribute right away," Spielman said. "Like any rookie, they're going to have their growing pains. but you have an opportunity to get some real unique talent, similar to what we got with Adrian Peterson at No. 7 [in 2007] and with Percy Harvin at No. 21 [in 2009]. So you have an opportunity to add another unique player like that."