Dime A Dozen?

In a previous column, I discussed the possibility of the Oakland Raiders drafting Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson to forego selecting the consensus number one quarterback in the draft. One of the likely repercussions of that decision is that Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson would be available when the Minnesota Vikings make their selection at number seven in this year's draft.

For the past two months, Vikings' followers have salivated at the possibility that Peterson might be available to the Vikings. And, at first blush, there is reason to be optimistic that Peterson will be a tremendous NFL player. Despite suffering two serious injuries during his college career, Peterson's numbers have compared favorably to those of Reggie Bush in Bush's final year of collegiate ball.

The numbers make Peterson appealing. The question stands, however, whether it is worth using a high draft pick even on a promising running back prospect in today's NFL, particularly when that back has a history of injuries.

By The Numbers

The greatest draft day fear of most NFL player personnel managers is making a mistake with a high draft choice. As a consequence, most NFL player personnel managers anguish over decisions that, to the regular fan, seem to be no-brainers. Whether a player drafted in the top ten of the draft will become a Hall of Fame caliber NFL talent is one matter. Whether he will fill a pressing need for the team drafting him is quite another. And while the former is a crap shoot, the latter is pretty well guaranteed, with apologies to Vikings' fans, if the drafting team merely does its due diligence and relies on common sense.

The question persists, however, whether, as one reader suggested, quality running backs are worth taking high in the draft or merely are a dime a dozen with quality backs readily available each year in free agency. I address this question by reviewing each of the first round running back selections over the past five years, then considering the alternatives in free agency.

From 2002 through 2006, fourteen running backs were selected in the first round of the NFL draft. In 2002, Cleveland selected William Green with the 16th pick and Atlanta tabbed T.J. Duckett at 18.

In 2003, Buffalo took a chance selecting the previously injured Willis McGahee with the 23rd pick and Kansas City selected Penn State running back Larry Johnson with the 27th pick.

In 2004, three backs were taken in the first round of the draft, with Steven Jackson going at 24 to St. Louis, Chris Perry at 26 to Cincinnati, and Kevin Jones to Detroit at 30.

In 2005, three more running backs went in round one, with Ronnie Brown going to Miami at number two, Cedric Benson to Chicago at four, and Carnell Williams to Tampa Bay at five.

Last Year, four running backs were selected in round one of the draft. At number two, New Orleans selected Reggie Bush who the Houston Texans had by-passed in favor of taking defensive end Mario Williams. Laurence Maroney went to New England at 21 in one of the steals of the draft, with DeAngelo Williams at 27 and Joseph Addai at 30, going to Carolina and Indianapolis, respectively.

What have these 14 running backs accomplished in the NFL? For the most part, plenty. At least plenty enough to merit having taken most of them in the first round of the draft. Of the 14 running backs selected in the first round of the draft since 2002, 11 already are or will be starters in 2007 and 13 remain in the league. Moreover, each of the backs selected in the top ten of the draft plays a prominent role in their teams current and future plans. Only William Green, who is out of the league as a result of substance abuse issues and injuries, and Chris Perry, who continues to battle injuries, qualify as first-round running back busts in the past five seasons of the NFL draft.

Opportunity Cost

The success of the majority of first-round running backs suggests that taking a first-round caliber running back is not the risk that it is often made out to be by draft wonks. But the value of drafting a running back high in the draft cannot be adduced by mere consideration of whether those players panned out in the NFL. Rather, it is necessary also to at least consider the alternatives to having drafted that running back in the first round.

One method of evaluating opportunity cost is to consider the alternatives in the draft. That's a subject to which I already have devoted several columns and one to which I will return leading up to the draft.

Another approach to evaluating opportunity cost is to consider the players available in free agency that play the same position that the player drafted plays. That's the approach I take in today's column.

In 2002, there were 24 NFL running backs available in free agency. Of the 24, three were relatively good players and two of the three--Warrick Dunn and Atowain Smith--proved their worth in years to come. And, in the less than spectacular draft that was the 2002 draft, both Dunn and Smith proved to be better options than either William Green or T.J. Duckett.

In 2004, there were 57 NFL running backs available in free agency. Of the 57, four had respectable years after signing as free agents with only one--restricted free agent Rudi Johnson--worthy of comparison with first-round draft picks. On the whole, the free agent running back pool of 2004 was unremarkable, particularly when considering that Johnson was not really available in free agency. Both Steven Jackson and Kevin Jones are considerable upgrades over all but Johnson.

In 2005, there were 92 NFL running backs available in free agency. Of the 92, seven have had good or better careers going forward and four could make a claim for being worthy of being taken in the first round of the NFL draft--Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson, Edgerrin James, and Chester Taylor. The problem with the 2005 free agent running back pool, however, is that, take away the franchised Johnson and Alexander, and you're left with one back with injury issues and one back without a pedigree. With Brown, Williams, and Benson emerging as solid first-round backs from the 2005 draft, on ability alone, the free agency pool of 2005 pales in comparison to what was available in round one of the 2005 draft.

Last year, there were 86 running backs available in free agency. Of those 86, six showed promise but only Alexander was without injury, age, or restricted status concerns. Even throwing Willie Parker and Brian Westbrook into the pool would not have trumped the talent available in the 2006 draft, with Bush, Maroney, Williams, and Addai already performing at high levels in the NFL.

Bottom Line

What this suggests about drafting a running back of Adrian Peterson's caliber in the top ten of the draft is that, at least compared to years past, it appears to be a no brainer. While there have been some good backs available in free agency in recent years, the one signing that everyone points to as an example of great backs being availabe in free agency is Shaun Alexander last year. Alexander, however, remains one of the rare exceptions of healthy, young backs not tagged by their teams with the franchise or transition label. The tags and the punishment of time spent running with the ball in the NFL make free agent backs both hard to obtain and risky propositions.

Even if the only concerns were present injuries and a high price tag for signing a free agent, free agency would lag behind the draft as a means of obtaining a first-round caliber running back. Unfortunately for those not in a position to add such a back through the draft, however, there is another obstacle.

With many teams flush with cap space even after spending in the 2007 off-season, first-round caliber running backs will command considerable attention in free agency for several years to come. If you thought that the rush to sign players such as Patrick Kerney and Visanthe Shiancoe drew interest, imagine the attention that will be paid to players like Reggie Bush, Laurence Maroney, DeAngelo Williams, and Joseph Addai, if, and when they hit free agency. The price will be staggering and the competition fierce.

The bottom line for the Vikings is that if they believe that they have a need for a running back who is first-round material, and if they believe that that need must be addressed this season, they should draft Peterson. And they should do so without the concern that they are throwing away money and a pick on a player who readily can be found in free agency.

Up Next: More Draft Talk.

NFL Draft Rumblings

We are still two weeks away from the 2007 NFL college entry draft and the Minnesota Vikings appear intent on cloaking their targets in the draft. While that probably is the best approach for the organization to take if it wishes to leave open it's numerous draft-day options, it does tend to make for a dull, pre-draft period.

But just because the Vikings' aren't talking much, doesn't mean that we cannot deduce the Vikings' options from what those who are speaking are saying. With representatives of most of the other NFL teams at least leaking rumors, there is more reason to believe that the Vikings' will have the option of drafting Adrian Peterson--a player most insiders believe the Vikings covet much more than they are letting on--than ever there was.

Domino Effect

The hottest rumor in NFL circles isn't really much of a revelation. Rather, it is a contradiction of conventional wisdom that is highly expected. The presumption all along has been that the Oakland Raiders will select LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the number one overall selection in this year's draft. The move would make sense as it would pair a great-armed, mobile quarterback with two wide receivers who can make a difference when healthy and willing to play, Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. Rumor has it, however, that Al Davis simply cannot overcome his infatuation with Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Oakland has numerous holes, including running back and offensive line. But the most glaring weakness is at quarterback. How diseased is the Raiders' quarterback situation? You be the judge.

After benching Aaron Brooks two games into the season, then starting him again, then benching him again, the Raiders finally wised up and cut ties with him. That left the team with two quarterbacks on their roster--neither of whom looks like they would be in the league if not for the Raiders.

If the Raiders select Calvin Johnson, barring trades, they will start the season with Moss, Porter, and Johnson at wide receiver and...Andrew Walter at quarterback? That's pretty tough to accept if you're a sensible Raiders' fan. Last year, Walter compiled these wonderful statistics after replacing the broken down Brooks--1677 yards on 53 percent completed passes with 3 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The 3/13 line is enough to make one shudder--or call for Joey Harrington as the starter next year. Alas, it sounds as though Davis is comfortable in his own skin (yuck!) with Walter throwing misses near a solid corps of receivers. It ought to be fun to watch so much talent at receiver run really fast for one quarter before two-thirds of the trio goes to the bench to rip the rookie coach.

If Oakland selects Johnson at number one, the board opens up dramatically for the Vikings at number seven, possibly giving the Vikings their pick of one of the top two quarterbacks and Adrian Peterson. And that's where things could get very interesting for Vikings' fans.

Up Next: Dominos Falling? Plus, Quinn versus Peterson.