Vikings’ most important task this offseason may surprise some

There are an abundance of moves that need to be made by the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, but their most important decision to be made has to do with a player that could likely never see the field in 2017.

When Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a devastating leg injury last August, Minnesota was left with a 36-year-old backup in Shaun Hill who had a total of eight starts in his previous five seasons. Obviously, the Vikings were not planning to need Hill on the field at all during 2016, but injuries happen in the NFL and teams have to be prepared.

Minnesota most certainly was not prepared for any type of injury at the quarterback position last year. Hence the reasoning for making a desperation move to acquire a quarterback in Sam Bradford who has never won more than seven games in a season.

Heading into 2017, the status of Bridgewater remains up in the air (despite reports that he will miss another full season) and Hill is a free-agent. Bradford is under contract for another year and the only other healthy quarterback on the roster is an unproven 23-year-old in Taylor Heinicke.

Now Bradford was able to remain healthy throughout the 2016 season, but there is no guarantee of that happening again in 2017. Meaning the Vikings may need the services of their backup quarterback at some point next season.

It would be wonderful if Bridgewater could beat the odds and be ready to play at some point in 2017, but it may be better off for the quarterback and the team to keep him off the field for at least one more year.

That leaves Heinicke, who has never thrown a single pass in an NFL regular season game. Perhaps Minnesota will feel confident making him their backup for 2017, but signing a quarterback with a little more experience may be the smarter option.

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As far as who will be available this offseason, there are a few decent choices including Brian Hoyer, Mark Sanchez, Mike Glennon, and Ryan Mallett.

Sanchez could actually be the candidate that have the best shot at landing with the Vikings (sorry to those who cannot get the image of the butt fumble out of their head). Minnesota offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has experience in working with Sanchez in 2014 and 2015 when the two were with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Of course, the Vikings could also throw everyone for a loop and draft a quarterback. But Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman would never do anything like that, right?

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Whatever they decide this offseason, it has to be a quarterback that does not cause Vikings fans to have an emotional freakout at the thought of that player starting a game under center.