Today is the third day of two weeks of Minnesota Vikings coverage leading up to the April 26 beginning of the NFL draft.
April 12: Five best first-rounders in the past 25 years
April 13: Five worst first-rounders in the past 25 years
Today: Quarterbacks position preview
April 15: Running backs/fullbacks position preview
April 16: Offensive tackles position preview
April 17: Guards/centers position preview
April 18: Tight ends position preview
April 19: Wide receivers position preview
April 20: Defensive linemen position preview
April 21: Linebackers position preview
April 22: Cornerbacks position preview
April 23: Safeties position preview
April 24: Rick Spielman's draft strategy
April 25: Forecasting the first-round pick
TODAY'S POSITION: QUARTERBACKS
Importance (1-to-10 scale): 3
On the roster
The Vikings made their move last season to solidify this position for years to come by selecting Christian Ponder in the first round. Ponder became a starter midway through the year and provided an immediate spark, but he seemed to regress by year’s end. Ponder is athletic, smart and seemed to have leadership qualities. His arm strength was a concern in the draft, and he struggled at times with accuracy last season. He has been named Minnesota’s starter entering offseason activities, and the team needs to find out just what they have in the No. 12 overall pick from last year.
The backups also appear to be set with Joe Webb and Sage Rosenfels behind Ponder. Webb is gifted athletically and has flashed potential in limited appearances, but he’s still very raw when it comes to playing the quarterback position. Webb will back up Ponder. Rosenfels is on the roster to provide depth and more of a veteran voice with the two young players ahead of him. Rosenfels understands his role and was re-signed this offseason as the third quarterback. All three players are signed through at least 2013.
Last five quarterbacks drafted
2011: Christian Ponder, Florida State: first round (12th overall)--still with the Vikings
2010: Joe Webb, Alabama Birmingham: sixth round (199th overall)--still with the Vikings
2008: John David Booty, Southern Cal: fifth round (137th overall)—released, September 2009, out of the NFL
2007: Tyler Thigpen, Coastal Carolina: seventh round (217th overall)—released, September 2007, backup with the Buffalo Bills
2006: Tarvaris Jackson, Alabama State: second round (64th overall)—signed with Seattle Seahawks, July 2011
Philosophy at the position
For years, Minnesota went with veteran quarterbacks, often recycling former stars hoping for one last shot at glory, whether it was Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George, Brett Favre or Donovan McNabb. Through different coaches and management changes, the Vikings weren’t very patient in letting young quarterbacks develop. Daunte Culpepper was the last young quarterback who held the starting position over several seasons, and his time was finished when Brad Childress took over as coach and the two didn’t see eye-to-eye on how Culpepper was rehabbing a knee injury. General manager Rick Spielman and coach Leslie Frazier are giving Ponder the shot to become a franchise quarterback and end the year-to-year retreads.
Day 1 name to remember (Round 1)
Ryan Tannehill, senior, Texas A&M (6-4, 220). Tannehill has the most buzz of any player in the draft two weeks before draft day. It would be an immense shock if the Vikings selected a quarterback in the first round. But If they did, Tannehill would be the guy with the No. 3 overall pick. It’s highly doubtful Spielman feels strongly enough about Tannehill to select him and turn away from Ponder. More likely, Spielman is going to be receiving calls for the third pick because Tannehill is the next best quarterback if Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III go 1-2 as expected. Tannehill is tall and a good athlete and has a strong arm. He has limited experience as a starting quarterback, starting just 13 games. He was a high school quarterback who moved to wide receiver at Texas A&M before switching back as a senior last season. But he is certainly attracting attention as the draft nears, and Spielman could get his wish for a trade partner interested in Tannehill.
Day 2 name to remember (Rounds 2-3)
Nick Foles, senior, Arizona (6-5, 244). With two young quarterbacks in Ponder and Webb, it’s also unlikely Minnesota would even look to address the position on Day 2. There are just too many other holes to be filled. If the Vikings were to look at a quarterback, maybe later in Round 3, it would be another project-type player. Foles is a tall, strong-armed prospect who completed 66.8 percent of his passes while starting three years at Arizona. He would need time to develop and could allow Minnesota to continue to evaluate Ponder’s progress as the starter in the short term. The big, strong Foles is the opposite of Ponder as a quarterback, strictly a pocket passer who likes to throw deep.
Day 3 name to remember (Rounds 4-7)
Ryan Lindley, senior, San Diego State (6-3-3/4, 229). Lindley is another pocket passer, tall, and with a big arm. He is considered a raw talent but has the arm and smarts to develop one day into a starter. The later rounds might be a spot where the Vikings actually take such a chance on a developmental quarterback who wouldn’t be a threat to Ponder over the next one or two years but could be ready later if Ponder doesn’t develop as expected. Lindley was a four-year starter at San Diego State. His biggest drawback is his inability to escape pressure, and he also needs to improve his footwork. Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson could be another name to remember on the third day, an athletic dual-threat as a runner and passer with a strong arm.
FOXSports.com's draft expert Taylor Jones says:
"I struggle to even put (Tannehill) in the first round, let alone the third overall pick. There are teams, the Vikings for example, I don’t think any people had them taking Christian Ponder heading into the draft last year. Teams recognize you have to have a QB to win in this league, so if you think there’s a guy that’s your franchise quarterback, it’s never too early to get that guy. … Obviously it’s a quarterback-driven league. If you think he’s your guy, then you’ve got to do whatever you can to get him. I struggle to see Tannehill as that guy. I think you can do just as well with a guy you get in the second round, a guy like Brandon Weeden or Brock Osweiler."
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