The Minnesota Vikings have a top 10 pick in the draft this year and the team may be looking at a trade for former first round pick Christian Ponder and teams like the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans or Jacksonville Jaguars could be options, especially if the team looks to draft names like Blake Bortles, Zach Mettenberger, Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins with the number eight pick.
The Vikings are at an interesting crossroads in their franchise, as the team is about to play outdoors for two seasons at the University of Minnesota and as this goes on, Adrian Peterson is nearing his 30th birthday and that is the age that most RBs start to slow down. The Vikings have a major decision to make in this draft, as they should be able to get one of the top prospects at number eight, including names like Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans or Mack.
The Vikings brought back Matt Cassel during the offseason to be their quarterback for next season and this came after the team started him over Christian Ponder. The former first round pick dealt with poor play and injuries last season and that could means he is on his way out just a few years after being drafted at number 12 overall. Many thought that was too high at the time for Ponder and after showing some flashes in 2012, he took a step back in 2013 and now it looks like he is finished as a starter in Minnesota. The Vikings now could look to take one of the top quarterbacks at number eight if they are available, as they could have a shot at Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel.
ESPN.com and many other draft experts see the Vikings going with a pick like Mack at that first selection and the using a later pick on a quarterback. The draft class is deep at the position and names like Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, AJ McCarron and Tajh Boyd all could be available in the later rounds and that could solve some issues for the Vikes. The team could trade Ponder to get some more depth in the draft and an extra pick and that could be huge as Mike Zimmer takes over and brings in Norv Turner to run the offense.
The Vikings really like Mack and we know that Zimmer doesn't like Manziel, but that doesn't mean the team may not grab Bridgewater or Bortles if they fall. The Texans are in the mix for a QB and so are the Cleveland Browns and that puts them into the conversation as well. The Viking's had a rough season last year and went just 5-10-1 and as they move into the new stadium they are looking for some young players to take over and that is what the number eight pick could be for Zimmer this season. The Vikings also could trade down from that pick to stock up on names in the first two rounds, but it's more likely they stick with that pick and take one of the top 10 prospects.