Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman wanted to make something very clear at a press conference on Tuesday. The team isn’t planning to trade Christian Ponder anytime soon. That is something that can be viewed in a number of different ways. Spielman is either protecting the idea of making a deal during the draft this weekend or just wants to have insurance for whoever the team selects to be their new franchise quarterback.
Ponder has had his struggles and while it may seem on the surface like the right thing to do since he isn’t going to be the starter in 2014, the team must keep him around unless they get an offer that can’t refuse. Spielman had to answer a question about the team considering a trade for St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. While Bradford is a solid quarterback, his injury history must be concerning and for the Vikings to make a trade like that, it would likely cost them several draft picks along with Ponder. Here are some highlights from the 2013 season for Ponder which show that he can be a good quarterback on occasion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYZvCHqotU
The Vikings are going to take a quarterback in this draft. It could be at No. 8 or it could be later on in the draft where the team can still get a solid prospect who could take over for the 2015 season but it’s going to happen. Ponder’s future with the Vikings is likely this season before he moves on to a different team and starts over. Spielman had to do whatever he could during that press conference to ensure the fans and the media that the team will have enough quarterbacks on the roster moving forward.
Is there a trade out there where the Vikings trade Ponder? There are always scenarios where the team could go for a big splash. A trade for Bradford would be such a big splash and one that would definitely change things around for the organization. Before a move like that is made though, would the quarterback the team could take in the second round like Jimmy Garoppolo be better than Bradford in the long run? The team can’t afford to see Bradford take a hit like this one that ended his college career especially on what will be rock hard turf at TCF Bank Stadium by December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd8fk834FnI
It is definitely a topic of conversation for draft weekend. Right now though, the Vikings are holding tight with Ponder and looking for their next young quarterback.