The Minnesota Vikings enjoyed the best draft of any NFL team this past weekend, according to some estimates around the league. If greater productivity on offense was their goal entering the draft, the team would be considered successful in the eyes of their fans.

Using the seventh pick in the first round, the Vikings selected Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, 220-pound slasher with speed. Peterson is generally regarded the top playmaker in the draft aside from the top five picks, and could become the blue-chip rusher the team has lacked since Robert Smith retired.

The second round yielded South Carolina wide receiver Sidney Rice, a raw talent with size and speed, but generally considered a project for the coaching staff.

A pair of defensive players, cornerback Marcus McCauley of Fresno State and defensive end Brian Robeson of Texas, were taken ahead of two more wideouts, Aundrae Allison of East Carolina and Chandler Williams of Florida International. Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander and quarterback Tyler Thigpen of Coastal Carolina were added in the late rounds.

Peterson, of course, is the key to the draft. Coach Brad Childress plans to team him with last year's starter, Chester Taylor, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards but wore down noticeably toward the end of the season. Childress mentioned the possibility of pairing the two backs at the same time in certain situations.

This draft did little to solve the Vikings' quarterback dilemma. The team has not had a dependable QB since Daunte Culpepper's knee injury halfway through the 2005 season. With Culpepper since traded to Miami, and his replacement, Brad Johnson, now in Dallas, Childress must find an every-down signal caller from a group that includes Tavaris Jackson, Brooks Bollinger, Drew Henson and Thigpen.

There was talk of drafting Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn as their first pick drew near, but the Vikings brain trust of Childress, Rick Spielmann and Scott Studwell simply could not pass on Peterson. Childress said he is confident Jackson will establish himself as the starter in this summer's training camp.

There are many theories regarding the Vikings' fall from competitiveness in the NFC's North division. Some point to the trade of Randy Moss to Oakland following the 2004 season, which seemed to result in Culpepper's loss of effectiveness as his favorite target was no longer on the field. Others prefer to blame the team's chronically weak defense.

Moss had lost some effectiveness, largely due to injuries in his last season with the team. His mere presence on the field impacted opponents, however, as other teams were forced to keep their safeties back in coverage, thereby loosening up defenses and enabling the running game to thrive.

The Vikings defense may never equal the old Purple Gang of Page, Eller, Marshall, etc, but the 2006 unit was actually one of the better defenses in the NFC. If the offense can overcome their "three- and-out" pattern of last year, a more rested defense could be even more effective.

While the draft did little on the surface to help the defense, the potential increase of offensive firepower should help the entire Vikings team.