Vikings Claim Terrell Manning; Visiting Keith Wenning Tomorrow
By Ben Gotz
Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
It’s was a busy afternoon for the Vikings today, at least when it comes to mid-April.
After signing tight end Allen Reisner, the team claimed former Chargers linebacker Terrell Manning, and news came out that the team had planned to meet with yet another quarterback in the upcoming draft.
Terrell Manning
A former fifth round pick of the Green Bay Packers, Manning has appeared in six games so far in his two year career. Due to injuries last year, Manning was placed on waivers yesterday and the Vikings went out and claimed him.
Manning only has three tackles so far in his career. He will find a familiar face in Minnesota, as Manning was college teammates with Vikings linebacker Audie Cole at North Carolina State.
Manning has spent most of his career at inside linebacker, so he seems set to compete with Cole there unless Mike Zimmer decides to move one of them to another spot on the defense. Manning will also compete with Michael Mauti and Jasper Brinkley at inside linebacker this summer.
Keith Wenning
The Vikings are set to meet with Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning tomorrow after continuing their meeting with Teddy Bridgewater today, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Wenning visited the Ravens today, and will visit the Packers on Thursday after meeting with the Vikings.
Wenning was a four year starter in college who threw for over 4,000 yards his senior season while tossing 35 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Wenning is considered a late round draft pick due to inconsistent mechanics and pocket awareness, as well as the fact that he operated mostly out of the shotgun while in college. Wenning figures to be a significant project who the team that drafts him, but he has enough arm strength and college production for some team to give him a shot.
At this point, it might start getting easier to begin naming all the quarterbacks the Vikings have not met with. It would be a pretty significant smokescreen if the team didn’t draft at least one quarterback this year, and their interest in some of the lower tier prospects like Wenning could mean the team is planning on drafting two: one high and one low.
Only a little over three weeks to go until we find out.