The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Doug Wolter

Related Photos

March 13, 2007

NFL draft an intriguing puzzle for Vikings

By Doug Wolter

If you were Brad Childress facing the 2007 NFL draft, what would you do?

Minnesota Vikings fans are alternating between three moods as the annual late April college smorgasbord approaches. Frustrated. Forlorn. The most optimistic among them, nervously hopeful. This is Childress’ second year as the head coach, and few second-year coaches ever find themselves in the position this one is in — either draft very, very well or enter autumn with the most uninspired, apathetic fan base since the days of Les Steckel.

How bad is it? Some fans actually believe owner Zygi Wilf is purposely sabotaging his team to make it easier for him to move it out of state. To many, that’s the only way to explain: (a) the Vikings’ lack of a capable starting quarterback and the apparent lack of interest in acquiring one; (b) the team’s stated determination to build only through the draft, spurning opportunities to plug holes through free agency; and (c) the continued employment of Troy Williamson as wide receiver.

To most of us, this team’s brain trust appears to be playing tiddlywinks in the war room.

But, of course, it’s still a little too early to throw in the purple towel. Intrigue abounds at this time of year, and all sorts of rumors have circulated about the Vikings’ behind-the-scenes maneuvering. The Vikings are working a trade for Atlanta backup quarterback Matt Schaub, maybe. No, they’re going after the Texans’ starter, David Carr. No, they’re going to bring Randy Moss back, and all will be well.

Perhaps the Vikings are not slumbering through the free agency/pre-draft period after all. They’re lying in the weeds, preparing to pounce on a blockbuster deal (reminiscent of the famous Herschel Walker trade?) on draft day. They might move up from the seventh pick of the first round to grab Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, a freakish athlete in the mold of Terrell Owens — who’s quick to point out he’s more like Marvin Harrison in the personality and work ethic departments.

The Vikings need a wide receiver with route-running and pass-catching skills like Britney Spears needs mothering, but if they don’t get Johnson they might be in the running for Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who not long ago was deemed the top pick in the entire draft. Without doing anything but resting on his collegiate body of work, the strong-armed Quinn has seen his draft stock slide. He seems to have risen somewhat in the last week to where he could be picked anywhere from second by the perennially quarterback-poor Detroit Lions or as late as ninth by Miami. If he were to become available to the Vikings at No. 7, they might feel forced to take him.

Every year, the NFL draft fascinates football fans for its chess-like variables, and every first-round pick is polished for his future Hall of Fame induction.

And every year, some of them become spectacular flops, as in Tony Mandarich (drafted ahead of Barry Sanders), Ryan Leaf (judged by many a better prospect than Peyton Manning), etc., etc.

As for the Vikings’ No. 7 pick this year, mock drafts basically have had them taking receivers Ted Ginn (Ohio State) or Dwayne Jarrett (USC), defensive ends Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas) or Gaines Adams (Clemson), cornerback Leon Hall (Michigan), or Quinn. Most fans seem to prefer a quarterback or a receiver, though any receiver other than Johnson will disappoint the faithful.

It all may hinge on what Detroit does at No. 2. The Lions may, in fact, take Quinn even though their history with high first-round quarterbacks is abysmal (do the names Chuck Long, Andre Ware and Joey Harrington ring a bell?).

So maybe Quinn will fall to No. 7. And I’m sure if the Vikings take him, he’ll become a star.

Then again, the last time they picked at No. 7 was two years ago, and that was went they went for ... Troy Williamson.



Doug Wolter is night news editor at The Free Press. To contact him, call 344-6384 or e-mail him at dwolter@mankatofreepress.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Doug Wolter
  • images_sizedimage_303150128 'Ida' not all she's cracked up to be So “Ida,” it turns out, is not “the first link to all humans,” as a member of its discovery team gushed. It doesn’t even belong to the same category as humans and apes, according to a revised analysis, but is more closely grouped with lemurs.

    October 30, 2009 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_269212911 'Companion' should be cherished, protected South Dakota has its Mount Rushmore, Arizona has its Grand Canyon, but Minnesota has its "A Prairie Home Companion."

    September 26, 2009 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_181224804 Mankato, make way for Favre In the interest of preparing fans for the circus to come, here’s a crystal ball prediction of what we can expect during the coming NFL football campaign after Green Bay Packer great Brett Favre declares himself to be a Minnesota Viking:

    June 30, 2009 1 Photo

  • Doug Wolter Celebrity politicians: It's the wave Night news editor Doug Wolter discusses the unfortunate downturn of the GOP through 'celebrity politicians.'

    November 16, 2008 1 Photo

  • Doug Wolter mug Great pitchers make fastpitch go
    As you amble on over to Caswell Park this week to witness the North American Fastpitch Association national tournament, pay special attention to the pitchers.

    August 15, 2008 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_183142717 Video games non-addictive, if you're well-rounded Once I had a neighbor so meticulous about his lawn that, two days after mowing he was doing it again, and in between he inspected individual blades of grass as if he were a general inspecting troops. If I had been more like him, my wife wouldn’t have objected, but I satisfied myself that he was obsessed, addicted — obviously suffering from a psychiatric disorder.

    July 2, 2007 1 Photo

  • Wolter mug Democrats get religion, or try Finally, it seems, the Democratic Party is searching its soul, as evidenced by the faith-based public forum attended Monday by three main rivals for the presidential nomination.

    June 8, 2007 1 Photo

  • images_sizedimage_149190345 Optimists: Community service, cheerful touch With so many bad things happening in the world these days, and with pessimism running higher than gas prices, one might naturally wonder how an organization like the “Optimists” is faring.

    May 29, 2007 1 Photo

  • Doug Wolter mug NFL draft an intriguing puzzle for Vikings If you were Brad Childress facing the 2007 NFL draft, what would you do?

    March 13, 2007 1 Photo

  • Wolter mug Advanced education coming sooner for today’s children

    February 18, 2007 1 Photo