Yet McFadden also might slide down in the first round of Saturday's draft, just as Peterson did a year ago.
Peterson wound up being selected seventh overall by Minnesota. All the former Oklahoma All-American did was rush for 1,341 yards in 14 games, including a single-game record 296 yards in a victory over San Diego and a 224-yarder in a win against Chicago. Peterson was a runaway winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and then was the MVP in the Pro Bowl.
Peterson's performances made a handful of the NFL teams that picked before Minnesota wonder just what they were thinking.
Now comes Arkansas All-American McFadden, who often has been compared with Peterson.
"People would make the comparisons because of we're comparable in size," McFadden said. "You know, the size and the body."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jan/02/images/ads/current/chriscoyne%20bca%20020207.png)
Peterson is 6-foot-1, 215, and McFadden goes 6-2, 212 or so.
"I feel I'm a different runner," McFadden added. "AD is a little more physical than me, but I feel I have the home run capability."
So do a lot of teams, yet there are scenarios where McFadden could slip to, say, No. 7, just like Peterson did. That would give the AFC champion Patriots a shot at the gamebreaker.
Other forecasts place McFadden with either the Raiders at No. 4 or the Jets at No. 6. Some teams have thought about moving up for a shot at the Arkansas star.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has downplayed Oakland's interest in McFadden. The team re-signed Justin Fargas to a $12 million, three-year contract; renegotiated Dominic Rhodes' deal; and has Michael Bush, who missed his rookie season recovering from a broken leg.
But owner Al Davis loves big-play artists, and McFadden is the biggest in this draft.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jan/02/images/ads/current/roger%20webster%20const%20bch%20050207.png)
"We're so stockpiled at that position," Kiffin said. "Sometimes running back's not a need but a dynamic player. Sometimes you obviously have to look at because the guy is so good at it he becomes a need for a star at that position. Obviously we've watched a lot of him, done a lot of research on him. But there's so many different directions for us to go before we get to running."
The Jets aren't in dire need of a running back either. They dealt for Thomas Jones last year and, although he struggled behind an inefficient line and with turmoil at quarterback, he is a workhorse back and is just 29.
That doesn't mean New York would pass on the kind of offensive playmaker McFadden has the potential to be.