Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson runs the ball during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season. (Elsa / Getty Images)

Sure, baseball season might be at the forefront as we enter the middle of April.

But here at NFL.com, football season — more importantly, fantasy football season — is what we do seven days a week, 365 days a year. That includes holding the draft for our annual 2009 Fantasy Football Preview Magazine, which will hit newsstands this summer.

That draft occurred today at the NFL offices in Culver City, Calif. and included Nick Bakay, Marshall Faulk, Jamie Dukes, Rod Woodson and Gil Brandt, to name a few of the owners.

Without giving out too much information — I’ll save the bulk of the draft results for the magazine — here are a few of the highlights.

The first pick was a shock to no one, as Dukes selected Adrian Peterson.

Of the 12 owners in the league, 11 took a running back in the first round. What’s more, 21 of the first 36 selections were runners.

The first non-running back taken was Larry Fitzgerald, who went to Bakay in the first round. Drew Brees was the first quarterback to come off the board, selected with the first pick in the second round by NFL.com senior editor and defending champion Craig Ellenport.

The first “old face in a new place” taken was Terrell Owens, who went to Faulk in the fourth round. Jay Cutler, now a member of the Bears, was taken a few spots after T.O. in the same round.

Tony Gonzalez was the first tight end to come off the board, going in Round 5.

Dukes would likely pancake block me if he knew I mentioned a kicker, but the first one drafted was Rob Bironas in Round 13. Of the 12 kickers selected, 10 went in the final two rounds.

If you decide to take a kicker before the last two rounds of your draft, well, I’ll be sending Mr. Dukes to see you soon.

The Steelers were the first defense selected, going off the board in Round 8.

As for my own personal draft strategy, I went with two running backs (Chris Johnson, Marion Barber) in the first two rounds, wide receivers (Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Bowe) in the next two rounds and a quarterback (Donovan McNabb) in the fifth round.

As for the rest of my team, well, you can check it out this summer.

I will say this to the rest of the owners in the league, though … championship!

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