The Minnesota Vikings are one of four teams picking in the first eight picks of the 2014 NFL draft with a need at the quarterback position, but according to Tony Pauline of Draftinsider.net, Mike Zimmer’s team is not looking to spend a first round pick on a signal-caller.
Pauline mentions former LSU Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger as the player the club is targeting in the near the top of second round.
The 6-5, 235-pound Mettenberger has the classic size you look for in a pocket passer and could have been a first round pick had he not sustained a torn ACL in the penultimate game for LSU this season against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
As a result of the injury, Mettenberger was unable to work out at the combine but he was able to interview and meet with NFL teams to assess his recovery and by all accounts Mettenberger is well ahead of schedule and will be healthy to participate in training camp this summer.
If the Vikings select him in the draft he would compete with Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder for the starting job, but neither of the two has shown to be a long-term solution as the position.
Mettenberger threw for 3,082 yards with 22 touchdowns on 64.9 percent passing with only eight interceptions.