Minnesota Vikings expected to wait on QB
Minnesota Vikings helmet. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have the eighth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and a huge need for a franchise quarterback, but it doesn’t look like they are expected to draft one in the first round despite their gaping hole at the most position in football. ESPN’s Bob Holtzman reported on SportsCenter, via Rotoworld, that the Vikings are not expected to take a quarterback with the eighth overall pick, and he adds that the Vikings are getting ready to “wait a round or two, if not longer” before drafting their hopeful franchise QB.
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The Vikings are reportedly high on LSU Tigers product Zach Mettenberger, as it seems like new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who is the most important person on the team when it comes to actually developing the QB they draft, is a big fan of his. Although he seems like a near-lock to be picked in the second-round of the draft, I’m not high on him. He benefited an awful lot from the best wide receiver duo in college football consistently bailing him out, and while he has plenty of arm talent, he is poor in the pocket and makes too many bad decisions. It always amazes me how much he fails to locate the safety, which leads to too many forced passes and interceptions. Mettenberger has talent, but I wouldn’t risk him as a franchise QB without a strong stopgap option in place.
I think the Vikings should spend their first-round pick on a quarterback, because it would be the biggest upgrade for them. Teddy Bridgewater, Derek Carr, or any other of the top four QBs in this class are significantly better than the rest of the bunch, and I would be perplexed if the Vikings truly believe Mettenberger is better than those guys. If Bridgewater is there at eight, then I think it would be a mistake for the Vikings to pass up on him. But at this point, it looks like the Vikings are poised to wait and take a QB like Mettenberger or Tom Savage later on in the draft.