Vikings have 1,216 reasons not to draft Peterson

By Krupka  |   Friday, April 27, 2007  |  Comments( 14 )

Minnesota Vikings
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
RealFootball365's own Connor Byrne unveiled his mock draft Thursday, and he's among many analysts who have the Minnesota Vikings choosing running back Adrian Peterson with the seventh overall pick.

"It's true the Vikings do have a good back in Chester Taylor, but he isn't a gamebreaker. Head coach Brad Childress would love to address the Vikings' weakest area, wide receiver; however, there aren't any options worthy of the seventh choice, and trading down will be tough. Minnesota will then take Peterson, who is the best offensive player on the board at this point. He'll certainly be an upgrade to the entire 'O', giving the Vikes a high-echelon one-two punch in the backfield," Byrne wrote.

It's hard to argue that Byrne's points are wrong. The Vikings may in fact draft the highly touted back who will surely be the best offensive player available -- of course, that's assuming Peterson is still on the board at No. 7.

For the intents and purposes of this article, however, let's suppose Peterson is a viable option when the Vikings are on the clock. The question then becomes, What will they do? And please, Minnesota, don't let the time run out. Thankfully for the Vikings, it appears that era has come and gone.

Anyway, though, should the Vikings draft strictly for need, or will they go with the player whom they perceive as the best available?

Personally, I subscribe to the latter theory. Had Minnesota also believed in this philosophy in 2005, star linebacker Shawne Merriman would be roaming the sidelines, wreaking havoc for the men in purple; instead, the organization is stuck with countless images of passes sliding through the hands of Troy Williamson.

Minnesota, then, is left with a quandary. The Vikings can either take Peterson, knowing full well that they already have Chester Taylor and Mewelde Moore as starting-caliber running backs, or they can look to the next option -- the second-best player available. However, this would likely be a defender, either safety LaRon Landry of LSU or ex-Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams.

Those who want Peterson will likely point to the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. They successfully used a pair of backs last year -- veteran Dominic Rhodes and rookie first-rounder Joseph Addai -- to provide a one-two punch, keeping both runners fresh throughout the season. Of course, if the Vikings grab Peterson they'll team him up with Taylor. Moore would then be relegated to kick-return duties and serve as the third running back.

NFL.com describes Peterson as being "blessed with a perfect blend of size, speed, strength and field vision."

Anyone who has watched Peterson knows the 218-pound back is a remarkable athlete. His problem has always been staying healthy. In three seasons at Oklahoma, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder, a right high-ankle sprain and a broken right clavicle.

In fact, Sports Illustrated writer Don Banks reported earlier this week that Peterson may need surgery to repair his collarbone, which he re-injured in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Injury concerns aside, one would be willing to bet Taylor and his 1,216 rushing yards from a year ago are reason enough to take a closer look at someone else with the seventh pick.

Then again, a one-two punch of Peterson and Taylor could be the Vikings' best since Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard were pairing up to damage opposing defenses. For Minnesota's fans, it could spell a return to a more explosive offense.

In any event, Saturday afternoon should be hotly debated in Vikingland, especially if the team passes on a high-impact player and ends up with another bust.

Eric Krupka is a senior writer for RealFootball365.com. He can be contacted at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

Get original Minnesota Vikings draft coverage at RealFootball365.com
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (14)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 14  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
vicman		05:41 AM
04/27/2007
Erik Krupka, as a Bills fan, I'm crossing fingers to see your dreams come true through this article. Anyway, I would recommend...
No.2
Troy		08:03 AM
04/27/2007
This is a touchy spot. I wan't peterson, but I don't think we need him. We hardly even use Moore on offense. And I don't really...
No.3
Big D		08:47 AM
04/27/2007
Adrian Peterson is a great example of how totally unpredictable this draft is! Can anyone remember a more "up in the air" draft??...
Team News  |  View All Vikings Content
Trade Heard Round the (Sport...
It’s inevitable that the Randy Moss to Minnesota trade executed by th...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   Trade Heard Round the (Sports) World ( 0 )
What’s Right is Wrong
When the NFL first rose above baseball as the most popular sport in Am...
1 year, 5 months ago   |   What’s Right is Wrong ( 0 )
Focused and Determined
A trip to Mankato State last week to watch the Vikings practice in she...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   Focused and Determined ( 1 )
The Return of the Attention...
Brett Favre will be back to play this year. Just thought I’d put that...
1 year, 6 months ago   |   The Return of the Attention 4 ( 6 )
Ray Edwards Passes His Unhap...
Ray Edwards, the other Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end, railed agains...
1 year, 11 months ago   |   Ray Edwards Passes His Unhappiness on to Others ( 0 )