Incoming Rookie Class

[vikes157]

Last year with the editions of Kalil, Harrision, Robinson, Wright, Walsh, Etc. Trough last years draft we made huge strides finding players that could all be solid contributers for the next decade. Would it be wrong to think that similar success with this years draft followed by increased performance from CP, make us serious super bowl contenders for years to come?

[Funkytown]

...not wrong

[Eli]

Way too early to tell. We can certainly hope it works out that way. I think Rhodes will be solid, and I like their mid and late round LB draft picks. The rest are boom or bust, but that's always the case with high profile draftees.

[losperros]

I think the Vikings will get a lot of production from this year's draft class but I'm not sure the impact will be immediate.

Seems to me that there will be some development time needed, even for all three 1st round picks.

[Demi]

Without a quarterback we won't be competing for anything other than a wild card spot and a drubbing in the first round of the playoffs.

Luckily we're in a good position to get a quarterback and have the team around them. Just need to find one in the next decade who's worth investing in.

[Funkytown]

Without a quarterback we won't be competing for anything other than a wild card spot and a drubbing in the first round of the playoffs.

Luckily we're in a good position to get a quarterback and have the team around them. Just need to find one in the next decade who's worth investing in.

Easier said than done. Don't you think that is what we're trying to do? Only a handful of teams are lucky enough to have "elite" quarterbacks, and a couple of them are on their way out soon. When was the last time the Vikings had a QB to your liking? The 70s?

[Demi]

Easier said than done. Don't you think that is what we're trying to do? Only a handful of teams are lucky enough to have "elite" quarterbacks, and a couple of them are on their way out soon. When was the last time the Vikings had a QB to your liking? The 70s?

Brett Favre held his own. Could make plays. Even Culpepper. You need a QB who can convert a 3rd and mid-range or longer in crunch time on anything even close to approaching a regular basis.

[Funkytown]

Brett Favre held his own. Could make plays. Even Culpepper. You need a QB who can convert a 3rd and mid-range or longer in crunch time on anything even close to approaching a regular basis.

So, 3 good quarterbacks throughout the entire Vikings history? I actually don't entirely disagree. That is a very sad reality. Only two of them were our own. Blah. Wish we could be lucky like the Colts and Packers--back-to-back greatness.

[Demi]

Both Packers and Colts had HoF veteran QBs on their roster when they drafted their replacements. We wait until we have *nothing* to try and find one. And instead of going all in and making a push (like on Cutler, or possibly even Locker) we decide to sit tight and draft whoever is there. Of course we're not going to have a high probability of success. They need to get serious about it or it's going to continue! Giving Ponder another year and he's still average, drafting in the middle of the round, and taking whoever happens to be there? Good luck. If Ponder falls on his face, either trade up to get an elite prospect, or run with a veteran until a young elite talent is available. No more of this half assing it.

[losperros]

If Ponder falls on his face, either trade up to get an elite prospect, or run with a veteran until a young elite talent is available. No more of this half assing it.

I agree with that only if 1) Ponder truly fails and 2) there are no stopgap replacements. No running with a veteran that's nothing more than a game manager, because that would be the absolute definition of "half assing" it.

Given the youth movement on the team, I think Spielman would turn to the draft for a new QB. If that means trading up, then they probably would do it.

[mondry]

I agree with that only if 1) Ponder truly fails and 2) there are no stopgap replacements. No running with a veteran that's nothing more than a game manager, because that would be the absolute definition of "half assing" it.

Given the youth movement on the team, I think Spielman would turn to the draft for a new QB. If that means trading up, then they probably would do it.

Yeah, it's an interesting problem, with a good team that needs a QB you'll always be picking too far back from the elite QB's so the "best" way would probably be to make an RG3 like deal to trade up and get the elite prospect. Otherwise some times there is a russell wilson or heck even Aaron Rodgers a little bit later. Hopefully we don't have to worry about it.

[losperros]

Yeah, it's an interesting problem, with a good team that needs a QB you'll always be picking too far back from the elite QB's so the "best" way would probably be to make an RG3 like deal to trade up and get the elite prospect. Otherwise some times there is a russell wilson or heck even Aaron Rodgers a little bit later. Hopefully we don't have to worry about it.

True.

Seriously, it would all depend on if the QB class is a deep one. If so, then there's no need to trade up. Anyway, I'm hoping Ponder makes a big leap forward in progress this year.

[vikes157]

He's coming into only his second minicamp, only has one full year as a starter, and our receiver group is a revolving door (no familiarity or consistency). That said, Ponder has still showing flashes of high level play. Just because of the surprising new wave of incoming quarterbacks that are playing at a pro bowl level we tend to think thats how our guy should be playing. We cannot compare Ponder to Cam, RG III, Luck, Etc. He is going into just his third year, has improved, and as long as he continues to improve which he should given added help, he will be our guy for the next decade.