If you were Brad Childress facing the 2007 NFL draft, what would you do?

Minnesota Vikings fans are alternating between three moods as the annual late April college smorgasbord approaches. Frustrated. Forlorn. The most optimistic among them, nervously hopeful. This is Childress’ second year as the head coach, and few second-year coaches ever find themselves in the position this one is in — either draft very, very well or enter autumn with the most uninspired, apathetic fan base since the days of Les Steckel.

How bad is it? Some fans actually believe owner Zygi Wilf is purposely sabotaging his team to make it easier for him to move it out of state. To many, that’s the only way to explain: (a) the Vikings’ lack of a capable starting quarterback and the apparent lack of interest in acquiring one; (b) the team’s stated determination to build only through the draft, spurning opportunities to plug holes through free agency; and (c) the continued employment of Troy Williamson as wide receiver.

To most of us, this team’s brain trust appears to be playing tiddlywinks in the war room.

But, of course, it’s still a little too early to throw in the purple towel. Intrigue abounds at this time of year, and all sorts of rumors have circulated about the Vikings’ behind-the-scenes maneuvering. The Vikings are working a trade for Atlanta backup quarterback Matt Schaub, maybe. No, they’re going after the Texans’ starter, David Carr. No, they’re going to bring Randy Moss back, and all will be well.

Perhaps the Vikings are not slumbering through the free agency/pre-draft period after all. They’re lying in the weeds, preparing to pounce on a blockbuster deal (reminiscent of the famous Herschel Walker trade?) on draft day. They might move up from the seventh pick of the first round to grab Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, a freakish athlete in the mold of Terrell Owens — who’s quick to point out he’s more like Marvin Harrison in the personality and work ethic departments.

The Vikings need a wide receiver with route-running and pass-catching skills like Britney Spears needs mothering, but if they don’t get Johnson they might be in the running for Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, who not long ago was deemed the top pick in the entire draft. Without doing anything but resting on his collegiate body of work, the strong-armed Quinn has seen his draft stock slide. He seems to have risen somewhat in the last week to where he could be picked anywhere from second by the perennially quarterback-poor Detroit Lions or as late as ninth by Miami. If he were to become available to the Vikings at No. 7, they might feel forced to take him.

Every year, the NFL draft fascinates football fans for its chess-like variables, and every first-round pick is polished for his future Hall of Fame induction.

And every year, some of them become spectacular flops, as in Tony Mandarich (drafted ahead of Barry Sanders), Ryan Leaf (judged by many a better prospect than Peyton Manning), etc., etc.

As for the Vikings’ No. 7 pick this year, mock drafts basically have had them taking receivers Ted Ginn (Ohio State) or Dwayne Jarrett (USC), defensive ends Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas) or Gaines Adams (Clemson), cornerback Leon Hall (Michigan), or Quinn. Most fans seem to prefer a quarterback or a receiver, though any receiver other than Johnson will disappoint the faithful.

It all may hinge on what Detroit does at No. 2. The Lions may, in fact, take Quinn even though their history with high first-round quarterbacks is abysmal (do the names Chuck Long, Andre Ware and Joey Harrington ring a bell?).

So maybe Quinn will fall to No. 7. And I’m sure if the Vikings take him, he’ll become a star.

Then again, the last time they picked at No. 7 was two years ago, and that was went they went for ... Troy Williamson.

Doug Wolter is night news editor at The Free Press. To contact him, call 344-6384 or e-mail him at dwolter@mankatofreepress.com.