The 2014 NFL Draft is just over a week away and with that, the Minnesota Vikings are continuing their research to figure out who they are going to take this year. The team has the No. 8 overall pick and there are many people who see the team taking a quarterback at that spot. While the idea of a quarterback there is interesting, it probably isn’t the best move around. The team needs to pick a quarterback at one point or another during this draft however. Here are the three quarterbacks that the team should be focused on if they want to make that kind of move in the draft.
Blake Bortles is obviously the name that comes to mind right away. Will he be available with the No. 8 pick? That is unlikely but if he is, Bortles may be the lone quarterback that is worth taking at that spot. He threw for 3,581 yards last season at Central Florida and most experts see him as the most ready NFL quarterback right now. It is going to take a lot of good luck though for Bortles to be available with the eighth pick though especially with the teams in front of Minnesota who need QB help. Here is Bortles from last year’s Fiesta Bowl against big-time competition in Baylor.
If Bortles isn’t the choice there, why not consider Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo who is shooting up draft boards right now? It is likely that the Vikings would need to trade back into the first round to get him but he appears to be the best option outside of the top five or six quarterbacks in the draft. He threw 48 touchdowns with just eight interceptions for 4,489 yards last season. He didn’t play big-time competition all season but in games against San Diego State and Northern Illinois, Garoppolo more than held his own. Here are some highlights of Garoppolo.
Minnesota does have some options later in the draft as well if they choose to go that way. The name that should be there for the taking in the fourth or fifth round would be Georgia’s Aaron Murray. He threw for 3,075 yards and 26 touchdowns before tearing his ACL late in the 2013 season. He should be fully recovered though by training camp and ready to be the team’s starter sooner than later. Murray was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and has shown leadership skills throughout his time. He could be a great sleeper pick. Here’s Murray in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piAUVTjOIgU
Those are just three names that should be on the Vikings’ radar when the draft gets underway on May 8. The passing game needs help and picking a young quarterback may be a good way to bring the team back from a disappointing 2013 season.