The Minnesota Vikings looked like they could contend for a playoff spot this year — if ever so slightly — but they’re experiencing growing pains this season and the loss of Adrian Peterson seems to seal their fate. Once again it’s back to looking at next year and what the offseason can bring for the future.
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Despite the 1-1 record, there is a lot of hope in Minnesota around head coach Mike Zimmer and the way the team has been able to build with young players through the draft. Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press thinks that the Vikings could end up with a top-5 draft pick this season, which could give them one final piece they need to secure their future.
According to Walters, it’s not far-fetched that the Vikings could draft Marcus Mariota should they land a top pick and deem him a can’t-miss prospect.
"It’s not far-fetched to think the Vikings could end up with the No. 2 overall pick, say with a 2-14 record, and that they could take Oregon QB Marcus Mariota if they consider him a can’t-miss franchise prospect."
Of course, this is a strange notion as the Vikings traded into the first-round of this last year’s draft to select Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater so there isn’t a pressing need for a young quarterback.
There is a lot of hype about Mariota coming into the NFL, enough to make a team hit restart on it’s quarterback situation before it’s too late. If the Indianapolis Colts can cut Peyton Manning to make way for a can’t-miss quarterback prospect then surely the Vikings won’t hesitate to move Teddy Bridgewater if Mariota is made available to them.
That’s a long ways off though, as it’s still possible for the Vikings to turn things around. There’s hope for the future either way and Minnesota will surely stay interesting for the time being.
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