Vikings predraft roster analysis, Day 8: Specialists

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | ST

DAY 8
Specialists.

ON THE ROSTER
Kickers: Rhys Lloyd, Ryan Longwell.
Punter: Chris Kluwe.
Long snapper: Cullen Loeffler.

BREAKDOWN
Longwell is coming off his most accurate season (26-for-28 on field goals, 92.9 percent), but he also is 35 and due $2 million in salary and bonuses in this, the final year of his five-year contract. The Vikings brought in Lloyd strictly to handle kickoffs -- he has 51 touchbacks over the past two seasons with Carolina, compared to 11 for Longwell -- and didn't give him a bonus. Kluwe ranked 15th last season in gross (43.9) and 18th in net (37.8) among punters with at least 37 attempts. Loeffler has been steady and never has missed a game in six seasons.

DRAFT OUTLOOK
Even with Longwell in a contract year, it's tough to imagine the Vikings drafting a kicker. Likewise, Kluwe is at least average and his contract, which runs through 2013, is due to pay him only $1.025 million this season.

MEL KIPER'S TOP FIVE
Kickers
Brett Swenson, Michigan State (5-8, 185)
Hunter Lawrence, Texas (6-0, 187)
Aaron Pelfrey, Ohio State (6-2, 199)
Leigh Tiffin, Alabama (6-2, 212)
Alex Steigerwald, Toledo (5-11, 181)

Punters
Zoltan Mesko, Michigan (6-5, 231)
Mike Brandtner, Iowa State (6-0, 200)
Trevor Ward, Southern Utah (6-5, 200)
Matt Dodge, East Carolina (6-2, 220)
Scott Ravanesi, Southern Illinois (6-1, 195)

UP NEXT
Offensive line.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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