ESPN: Minnesota Vikings won’t pick a QB in 2017 NFL Draft
By Adam Carlson
ESPN predicted whether or not each NFL team would pick a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft, and the Minnesota Vikings were in the group that will not.
If recent history proves anything, it’s that a team has a much better chance of winning a Super Bowl if they have a top-tier quarterback behind center to lead the way. The Minnesota Vikings are putting their faith in Sam Bradford for 2017, but what about beyond that?
With Teddy Bridgewater‘s future uncertain, Case Keenum as no long-term answer, and a big question mark in Taylor Heinicke, the franchise may be looking to add competition or look for a long-term answer.
Recently, ESPN projected whether or not each team will be selecting a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. Ben Goessling handled the situation in Minnesota, first running down the available passers:
"“The Vikings signed Case Keenum to be Sam Bradford’s backup last week, and they’ve still got third-year undrafted free agent Taylor Heinicke on the roster. And then there’s Teddy Bridgewater, who is trying to return from a catastrophic knee injury to continue his career in Minnesota.”"
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Next, Goessling moved from looking at the roster to looking forward toward the 2017 NFL season, where he could see the possibility of a late-round quarterback for training camp or competition, but overall doesn’t see the Vikings using a pick on a passer.
"“There’s an argument to be made for another developmental quarterback, but the Vikings might be able to get one as a rookie free agent. They have eight draft picks, but they also have enough other needs that they’ll likely fill those before looking at a quarterback.”"
This is a challenging question for the Vikings. If a top-tier quarterback falls into their laps, the Vikings may be compelled to select the signal caller. However, considering how there are many teams still desperate to find a passer for this year, the odds of this happening are slim.
Next: 2017 positional evaluation - Quarterback
What do you think? Will the Minnesota Vikings look to bring in a quarterback to compete and develop or will they stand firm with the group they have heading into the 2017 NFL season? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.