National Football League

Is it time for Vikings to take a quarterback?

Published Apr. 20, 2010 7:37 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Vikings have arrived at another NFL draft, without clarity on who their quarterback will be for the foreseeable future.

Brett Favre or not, could this be the year the Vikings go for a big name at the sport's most important position?

``We've got two experienced quarterbacks on our roster,'' director of college scouting Scott Studwell said, referring to Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels. ``We don't know what's going to happen with Brett yet. If there's a guy there that we covet and we think he's going to be a potential starter or a good backup for us, then we'll certainly have to talk about taking them.''

Coach Brad Childress insisted the uncertainty of Favre's return won't affect the team's willingness to take a quarterback this weekend, and vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said the Vikings won't treat the position differently than any other.

``The best approach to it is like you don't have anyone on your roster,'' Spielman said, adding: ``Go ahead, set your draft board, set the players how you see them, and pretend like you don't have needs.''

The Vikings have the 30th pick in the first round, plus seven other selections in rounds two through seven.

If Favre returns, they'll have three quarterbacks under contract for a price of nearly $17 million, but still no clear star-in-waiting to go with Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice.

``You're always addressing it,'' Childress said. ``You're always looking to see whether it's somebody on your roster or somebody that you're going to obtain in the future, whether the future is a couple days from now or a couple weeks from now or a couple years from now. You're always wanting to have that person.''

Childress added: ``Would I like to have a long-term solution? I think we all would. But by the same token, you don't want to force it and grab for something that's not there.''

If the Vikings have subscribed to the draft-and-develop process of producing elite quarterbacks, they haven't followed through very much. Beginning their 50th season in the NFL, the Vikings have taken a quarterback in the first round only twice: Tommy Kramer in 1977 and Daunte Culpepper in 1999.

In fact, they've drafted a quarterback in the second or third round only three times: Fran Tarkenton in 1961, Bill Cappleman in 1970 and Jackson in 2006.

Most of the franchise's success in the passing game has been fueled by veterans acquired through free agency or trades (like Favre and Warren Moon) or late-round fliers (like Brad Johnson and Wade Wilson).

It's been a slow offseason for the Vikings, who watched running back Chester Taylor and offensive lineman Artis Hicks leave and retained their three other unrestricted free agents: wide receiver Greg Lewis, cornerback Benny Sapp and defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy. The Vikings also signed kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd and defensive end Mike Montgomery.

The draft is clearly their focus.

There are a number high-profile quarterbacks from major colleges available in the first couple rounds, with Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, Texas's Colt McCoy and Florida's Tim Tebow among them. Then there are sleepers like Cincinnati's Tony Pike, Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton that the Vikings could consider later.

Tebow might be the most intriguing, given his winning record, toughness and character. ``He was a willing soul,'' Childress said, calling Tebow ``aces'' in all character-related categories.

Spielman said the Vikings have four players targeted for the No. 30 pick, but he also indicated an openness to trade it and move down because of the depth of this draft.

Spielman also didn't rule out a trade up, which is essentially the same way the Vikings and every other NFL team talk about their strategy each year - publicly declaring a willingness to consider all options and refusing to tip their hand about preferences.

Teams often talk up particular prospects, too, trying to make others think they're leaning one way while believing the opposite. So that means Tebow could go anywhere.

The knocks against him are accuracy and velocity.

``You want Tim Tebow on your football team,'' former coach Jon Gruden said recently. ``If you really want someone bad enough, you're going to have to take him, whether it's the first round or the second round. ... I think somebody that's got a down-the-road approach and has a vision for him will take him and take him earlier than some people expect.''

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