| Jeff Risdon. 3rd May, 2007 - 4:14 pm
 The picks:
1st round, #7 overall--Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
2nd round, #44--Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
3rd round, #72--Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State
4th round, #102--Brian Robison, DE, Texas
5th round, #146--Aundrae Allison, WR, East Carolina
6th round, #176--Rufus Alexander, LB, Oklahoma
7th round, #217--Tyler Thigpen, QB, Coastal Carolina
7th round, #233--Chandler Williams, WR, Florida Intl.
Best pick: Allison
Worst pick: Alexander
Analysis:
The Vikings stocked up on a lot of athletic talent. Peterson is as talented as any RB in the last 5 drafts, and as long as he stays healthy (a significant question) he’s the gamebreaking talent every team craves. Pairing him with Chester Taylor ensures the Vikings have perhaps the best 1-2 RB punch in the league.
The Vikings desperately needed speed and hands at WR, and in Rice and Allison they plugged that hole nicely. Allison could be an absolute steal in the 5th round. There is an overriding theme with their picks in rounds 2-5, and unfortunately for them that is “great athletes, not necessarily great football players”.
Alexander is too slight and neither quick enough nor fast enough to make it.
Williams has great hands and KR ability, though he plays smaller than his 5’10’, 181 pounds. I’d like to say something about Thigpen, but until Sunday I’d never heard of him and I have access to all sorts of scouts and player databases.
Grade: B
Peterson was a great decision, and holding the pick gave them better value later on. The next four picks all could start by the end of the season, though all carry a higher “bust” risk than most teams like from those slots. New GM Rick Speilman has given his coaching staff lots of potential and much-needed athleticism. If Allison, Robison, and McCauley all quickly fulfill their potential, the Vikings had one of the top-three 2007 NFL drafts. |
