Vikings' draft board an education, starting with Peterson pick

Judge: Peterson | Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings entered the first round of last weekend's draft uncertain what they'd find at the seventh pick. Clubs ahead of them, they figured, would determine the player the Vikings chose -- and they did.

Adrian Peterson, come on down.

Adrian Peterson: No. 3 on Minnesota's draft board and too talented to pass. (Getty Images)

The selection of Peterson launched a run of direct hits for the Vikings, who need help to climb out of a 6-10 funk and may have found it through the draft. The question is: How did they do it? The way to get the answer is to ask Rick Spielman, the team's vice president of player personnel.

Round 1

This is what I like about what Minnesota did here: It took the best player out there, and it did it by sticking to its draft board.

The Vikings could have had quarterback Brady Quinn. Or defensive end Jamaal Anderson. Or any receiver not named Calvin Johnson. But those guys weren't at the top of the board. Peterson was.

"We talked about Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson," said Spielman, "and once we got through our meetings I put us in six different mock drafts, with all six of those guys falling to us. But I didn't expect both Adrian Peterson and Brady Quinn to be there when we picked.

"Adrian Peterson was the third highest-rated player on our board, and he was just too good to pass up. You cannot have enough running backs. Plus, I know how important it is for us to run the ball, the type of offense we have and what coach (Brad) Childress wants."

Translation: The Vikings believe they need Peterson more than they need Quinn -- which means Tarvaris Jackson can exhale. The only obstacle now between the second-year quarterback and a starting job is Brooks Bollinger.

The question with Peterson, of course, is a collarbone he broke during the season and re-injured in the Fiesta Bowl. There was speculation that Peterson might require another surgery, but Peterson last week dismissed the idea.

"We had him brought in," said Spielman, "and our doctors felt fine with the collarbone. I don't know what we'll do to make sure that is ready, but I do know he's scheduled to participate in the weekend minicamp and be ready by time we get into training camp.

"I don't have any doubt he will come in here, have success and have a great career."