The Minnesota Vikings are heading into workouts this offseason with major questions and a trade with Christian Ponder could be an option to the Houston Texans or Cleveland Browns and after drafting Teddy Bridgewater in the first round the quarterback will have the chance to compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job, as head coach Mike Zimmer said he will get first team reps this offseason in OTA workouts.
The Vikings are coming into the season after going 5-10-1 last year and while they said they had no interest in Johnny Manziel, the team did make some maneuvers to try and get him, but Zimmer said they are satisfied with Bridgewater and they feel he has a bright future. According to ESPN.com, Bridgewater will get the chance to compete this offseason with Cassel and Ponder for the starting job and while Cassel has the inside track after signing a two year deal this offseason, Bridgewater could win out if he is talented enough. The Vikings traded back into the first round to draft Bridgewater and if he shows he can be a solid backup, the team could look to trade Ponder.
Last season Ponder came into the season as the starting quarterback, but injuries and poor play put Cassel under center and he signed a two year contract in the offseason to come back. Either way Cassel is the short term starter option if Bridgewater doesn't win things out and Ponder has shown that he isn't in the future plans for the team after the way he has played. The team did not pick up his fifth year option and that makes Bridgewater the future, even if it doesn't happen this year. The Vikings have two years outside in the cold and they could be rebuilding some of that time and one top of that, the team also could look to trade or get rid of Adrian Peterson at some point with his contract taking up so much space on the salary cap.
Bridgewater, Ponder and Cassel are all working in a new offense from coordinator Norv Turner, who comes in after working with the Cleveland Browns last season. Bridgewater was considered the third best prospect in the draft behind Manziel and Bortles and that's the way the three went of the board and Bridgewater could be the first on the field if he wins the job this offseason. Rookie minicamps opened last week and Bridgewater comes in out of Louisville after having another productive season, while Ponder comes in after passing for 1,648 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions.
The Vikings went 2-3-1 in their division last season and they come into 2014 after ranking 23rd in passing yards per game on offense and allowing 287 yards in the air per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. The team drafted Anthony Barr in the first round with the number nine pick and then they took Bridgewater with the last pick in the first round.
