Looking at the draft: Just takes a little Luck

The Vikings could really make a move on Sunday.

No, we're not talking about the playoffs. That ship has sunk.

We're talking about the 2011 NFL draft.

With three victories, the Vikings currently hold the seventh spot in next year's draft. That's quite a feat for a team with this much talent. But that's not the best news heading into the weekend.

The best news is four of the six teams ahead of the Vikings play each other Sunday. So if the Vikings dig shallow, stay unfocused and continue to underachieve, who knows how far they can climb in next week's mock drafts? The sky -- or, I suppose, the basement -- is the limit!

The goal now is to crawl steadily into the abyss, secure the No. 1 overall pick, select Stanford's Andrew Luck as the elusive long-term franchise quarterback and give Judd & Chip Inc. its first day off since Brett Favre first stepped out of Chilly's SUV.

Yeah, I know. A team with more than two victories hasn't selected No. 1 overall since the four-win Chargers in 2004. But, gosh darnit, we're setting the bar high -- or, I suppose, low -- for what could be seven excruciating weeks to end this season.

Meanwhile, the Bills (1-8) travel to Cincinnati (2-7), and the Lions (2-7) visit Dallas (2-7). Carolina (1-8), the only other team with fewer than three victories, plays Baltimore (6-3).

Since the Vikings play the Bills and Lions over the next seven weeks, you should be pulling for Cincinnati and Dallas to secure their third victories Sunday. The Vikings can help the Bills and Lions at a later date. Baby steps, folks. Baby steps.

The Bills won Sunday against Detroit, but lost a step in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The first tiebreaker in deciding draft selection is strength of schedule, so Buffalo fell behind Carolina for the No. 1 pick. Most experts believe the big Stanford QB will leave school early rather than risk damaging his draft stock the way Washington's Jake Locker did by playing his senior season this year.

Mel Kiper Jr. -- OMG, did I really just type that name on Nov. 15? -- has Luck No. 1 on his board. Scouts Inc. also ranks the 6-4 pro-style passer as the best player available.

Here's the current top 10 in the 2011 draft, with strength of schedule heading into Monday night's game between the Eagles and Redskins:

Would they take Luck since they already have Jimmy Clausen? Have you seen Clausen?

2. Bills 1-8 (.580)

Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing well, but is he really a franchise QB?

3. Lions 2-7 (.532)

Matthew Stafford is so fragile, the snakebit Lions might have to consider taking another QB.

Tony Romo is overrated.

5. Bengals 2-7 (.580)

Carson Palmer is beyond overrated.

6. 49ers 3-6 (.512)

Former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith has done nothing to suggest he's the answer.

Favre can finally heal up and start counting down the five years until he enters the Hall of Fame.

8. Cardinals 3-6 (.556)

Derek Anderson and Max Hall. Any questions?

9. Broncos 3-6 (.580)

Probably wouldn't take a QB after taking Tim Tebow last year.

Probably would pass on QB after the way Colt McCoy has played.

Some mock drafts have the Vikings taking Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett somewhere in the top 15. But why should the Vikings settle for him next year when things are going so badly on the field this year?