Note: For the next eight weekdays, we'll take an exclusive look at the Vikings' draft. We'll combine positions on some days in order to address as many areas as possible. Check for a new post each day through April 28.
The issues: The Vikings have several needs in this draft but running back isn't one of them. Adrian Peterson is going to be looking for a rich contract extension when the lockout ends – his deal will void after 2011 – but it's hard to believe the Vikings are going to let him walk. Toby Gerhart was taken in the second round last year and Lorenzo Booker was signed in December after playing in the UFL.
What they have: Peterson finished fifth in the NFL last season with 1,298 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns in 15 games and also managed to eliminate his issues with fumbles. Peterson had 20 fumbles and lost 13 over his first three seasons but last year he fumbled only once.
Peterson's rushing total was the lowest of his four-year career but he also caught 36 passes for 341 yards and was playing on a team that went 6-10, had issues on the offensive line and had a future Hall of Fame quarterback (Brett Favre) who was unable to capture the magic that he had displayed the previous season.
In other words, there were reasons for Peterson's decline in rushing yards that were beyond his control.
The Vikings made a trade with the Houston Texans last April in order to get a higher second-round pick so they could select Gerhart, who had been the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2009. Minnesota sent the 62nd pick (second round) and 93rd pick (third round) to the Texans for the 51st selection.
The Vikings wanted Gerhart to replace Chester Taylor, who had been an extremely reliable backup behind Peterson but left after the 2009 season to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Bears.
Gerhart, 6-feet, 231 pounds, got off to a rough start as veterans went especially hard at him during training camp, but he seemed to gain some measure of confidence as the season progressed and finished second on the team with 322 yards rushing on 81 carries (a 4.0 average) in 15 games with a touchdown. He even started a game in late December at TCF Bank Stadium when Peterson sat out against Chicago because of a thigh injury.