2007 Previews: Minnesota Vikings

Note: This is a team-by-team look previewing the 2007 season. These are my official thoughts on how I think things will play out.

Last year: 6-10 (third in NFC North)

Best addition: Mike Doss (S, Colts)

Key personnel loss: Fred Smoot (CB, Redskins)

2007 outlook: The Vikings have a lethal secondary after adding Doss to play alongside Darren Sharper, but the loss of Smoot means they are still searching for someone to play opposite Antoine Winfield. But three studs in the secondary is a great start. Add that to a defensive line showcasing Kevin Williams, Pat Williams and Kenechi Udeze and you've got a strong defense - at least until you look closer at the LB corp, which leaves something to be desired.

On offense, Minnesota is turning the reigns over to unproven QB Tarvaris Jackson and with no veteran backup, things could get interesting. One thing Jackson will have is plenty of RB's to play with after the drafting of Oklahoma product Adrian Peterson in the first round. But Jackson won't have much help in the receiving department so any judgments of Jackson's performance may not be entirely accurate.

Key to success: Fans will look to the progress of Jackson to determine if Minnesota made the right move in letting journeyman Brad Johnson walk away a second time, but the real key here will be the WR's and their ability to help their QB. None of them have really lived up to expectations and if they continue to fall short this year, defenses will be able to stack the box against the run and then it won't matter how many decent RB's the Vikings throw out there, they will have no room to run.

Against Washington: The Skins will travel to Minnesota with two weeks left in the season and if things go as planned, both teams will be hoping to be playing for a playoff spot. This game comes during a tough December for Washington in which it will host Chicago and Dallas while traveling to New York and Minnesota in between.

Fantasy sleeper: Troy Williamson. This is a make or break year for Williamson, who will be counted on to help bail out Jackson in times of trouble. If Williamson wants to stick in Minnesota, he will need to have a big year. And any owner smart enough to draft him in later rounds will be rewarded when Williamson's speed leads to big plays. But if he flops, he will frustrate owners who decide to play him before he has given any reason too.

Just Another Mock Draft: Picks 1-6

To start off my week-long draft rantings, I have decided to break the draft up, starting with the first 6 picks - this is a Redskins blog after all so I at least have to get to their pick in the first day - in Saturday's selection special. But rather than trying to guess who each team is going to pick, I am going to mention why each team should pick the player listed. Oakland is on the clock:

1. Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Aaron Brooks wasn't the answer. Neither was Art Shell. Or Randy Moss. Or anyone else on Oakland's 2006 squad. But with QB being the most glaring hole and with the Raiders passing on both Jay Cutler and Matt Leinart last year, they have to take Russell don't they? Russell came out early with the knowledge that he would probably end up in Oakland so if he is willing to go there, the Raiders should make him the QB of choice.

2. Detroit Lions - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Because you can't draft a new general manager, the Lions should look for a QB that can develop some chemistry with all of those receivers the Lions have used their past first-round picks on so that Detroit can hope to win some games in the next decade. And because Quinn is nothing like Ryan Leaf, Detroit should feel confident that Quinn will be their quarterback later on down the line.

3. Cleveland Browns - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
Cleveland probably needs a lucky clover more than anything else here in hopes of avoiding the slew of injuries the Browns sustained last year, but Peterson will be a good substitute ... as long as he can - say it with me - stay healthy. With Jamal Lewis only tied to the team for one year, what a perfect opportunity for the Browns to have a grizzled vet teach a young guy the NFL ropes.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
Another offensively challenged team, Johnson is the best player in the draft and the Bucs would be lucky to have him fall to him. With Joey Galloway already over the hill in football years and Michael Clayton still trying to figure out what he's doing, the Bucs need some sort of downfield weapon and Johnson is easily the cream of the crop. No matter who ends up quarterbacking the team, they will definitely have an easier time is Johnson is the guy catching the ball.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Unlike the teams ahead of them, the Cardinals arguably only need to upgrade one spot to make a playoff run for this season. The problem is, they need to upgrade the entire offensive line. The place to start is by replacing departed left tackle Leonard Davis and the guy to do it is Thomas. With a solid replacement available here, if the Cardinals want to see Matt Leinart duplicate the success he had at USC, Thomas is the guy they need to start building with.

6. Washington Redskins - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
With no pass rush and the defense in shambles, the Redskins need to find a way to pressure the quarterback this year and Adams seems to be the guy who can get that task done. With obvious holes in the secondary as well, Adams could help hide some of those problems by getting to the quarterback quickly. That point is especially important since after this pick we won't hear from the Redskins again until Day 2.