The Minnesota Vikings are coming into the season with a number of big questions and the team could end up rebuilding in the future if Teddy Bridgewater starts and that will bring up the Adrian Peterson trade rumors again and a team like the Dallas Cowboys will always be mentioned when it comes to him and the team may also look at trading Christian Ponder this summer.
The team is starting off with Matt Cassel at QB and they have both Bridgewater and Ponder and the team likely will not make any big decision until the season gets closer. The Vikings come into the season looking to bounce back from a 5-10-1 record and a team like the Texans could be an option for Ponder if they want a bridge QB. The value of RBs is dropping and that may lead to a trade in the future for Peterson id the team rebuilds.
Cassel played well last season and played in all five of the Vikings wins and he took over after Christian Ponder was ineffective and injured during the season. The Vikings said that Bridgewater will get first team reps this offseason and while that doesn't mean he will start, it gives him a chance to get experience and also to move up on the depth chart. Turner has praised Ponder despite the rumbles of trade rumors and right now it looks like he will remain with the Vikings this season.
The Vikings struggled passing the ball last season and now Cassel and Bridgewater will try and get the rushing and passing games more consistent. Mike Freeman wrote after the draft that the value of running backs is dropping and that a split could be coming in the future for the two and it may be after the season that a split happens, especially if the team struggles again this year.
The trade rumors first popped up after the team did not pick up the fifth year option on Ponder, who was a first round pick a few years ago and never caught on as the starter for the Vikings. Ponder helped lead his team to the playoffs the year before and then was injured before the playoffs matchup and then last season he struggled as the team went just 5-10-1 on the year. The Vikings did not have much going on offense apart from Adrian Peterson and the team was playing so badly that some columnists in the Minnesota area started writing that the Vikings should consider trading Peterson at some point and now that could happen if the team struggles again.
Cassel comes back after signing a two year deal and he comes in after playing well last season for Ponder, playing in all five wins for the team and starting most of those games. Ponder now looks like a wasted first round pick and the Vikings are hoping he can play better behind Cassel this season to keep pressure off Bridgewater. According to ESPN.com, Bridgewater will get his chances to start or to move up on the depth chart this summer, as Mike Zimmer is planning on giving the rookie reps with the first team offense. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner has praised both Bridgewater and Ponder and one reason the Vikings have not traded Ponder is to give them insurance barring an injury or if Bridgewater isn't quite ready to play yet.
