Vikings QB in 2014?

With a new head coach now selected, I think that it's a good time to begin pondering (pun intended) who will be the starting QB for the Minnesota Vikings in 2013?  With Norv Turner being hired as Offensive Coordinator, it appears that they will favor more of a vertical passing attack that will push the ball down the field more, that will be a dramatic departure from the west coast offense that they've essentially been running going back to the beginning of the Brad Childress era.  How do the current group of Viking QB's fit into that type of scheme?  The trade/free agent market looks to be a little weak this year but there a few who could help.  The upcoming NFL draft will have as good a crop of QB's as I can recall (there are 4 QB's who could easily go in the top 10 picks, another couple who will go late first/early second round and another 3-4 who could be gone by the end of round 3).  So who will they/should the Vikings be looking at?  Let's take a look:


In House Candidates: 

1. Christian Ponder - I can't see Christian Ponder being brought back next year, he's had plenty of time to grasp onto that starting QB role and he hasn't been able to do it.  I have also seen very little progression out of him, he has still been making the same mistakes that he made as a rookie.  He also doesn't fit the prototypical Norv Turner type of QB, his arm strength and accuracy down field just isn't there.  I think it would be best for all parties involved if they just go their separate ways at this point.
2. Josh Freeman - I think that it's safe to say that it was a mistake to bring him in last year.  I hate to judge him on that one game he played for the Vikings on 4 days of practice but it was just so god awful of a performance that it's hard to overlook, his mechanics were horrible and his accuracy was all over the place.  From the sounds of it, his work ethic left a lot to be desired too.  I don't see him back.  
3. Matt Cassel - if the Vikings bring back a QB, I think it will be Matt Cassel.  When given the chance to play last year, he did struggle some, but he also looked okay for the most part.  He's also a pretty good fit with Norv Turner in that he does have the ability to drive the ball downfield.  If the Vikings do stick with Cassel next year, I'm guessing that it wouldn't be a long term thing though, I'm guessing it would be accompanied by the drafting of a QB and I could live with that.  
4. Joe Webb - I'm going to include Webb for one reason, not that I think he'll be the Vikings starting QB, but just because of Norv Turners use of MarQueis Gray in the Wildcat formation last year with the Cleveland Browns.  Webb would be perfect in that role for the Vikings, with his versatility he can also help at WR, Special Teams and as the emergency QB.  That type of versatility can give the Vikings all sorts of flexibility with their roster, I think they will find a place for him.

Trade/Free Agent Candidates:

1. Michael Vick - with the Eagle's seemingly committed to Nick Foles at QB, where does that leave Michael Vick?  I'd guess that he's making way too much money for them to bring back in a back up role.  He's still an incredibly gifted athlete and he's got the arm strength to play in a Norv Turner offense.  I don't think this will happen but I could live with it if it did.  
2. Ryan Mallett - IMO, Mallett has all the tools to perfectly fit into a Norv Turner offense, he's big, he's got a cannon of an arm, he's got experience working with Bill Belicheck & Tom Brady, he's still got his best years ahead of him, he's just needing a chance at this point.  Tom Brady's still got a couple of years in him too, I can't help but think that the Patriots would love to get a high draft pick in exchange for him while his value is high.  
3. Matt Schaub -  his time in Houston appears to be over.  He's got plenty of experience.  He was absolutely miserable last year though.  I would hope that the Vikings take a pass on Schaub.
4. Kirk Cousins - he played well in 2012 and his value was sky high, but when he got the chance to play again last year he struggled.  He's still got some nice tools and the asking price for him has probably dropped considerably.  If the Vikings could get him for a late round draft pick they may consider it.  
5. Charlie Whitehurst - he's another unrestricted free agent, he also played for Norv Turner in San Diego, so he could come in with a good grasp of the system already.  He's never really done much to distinguish himself but given the Turner ties, he's an interesting name to keep an eye on. 
6. Josh McCown -  he actually played really good for the Bears last year when Jay Cutler went down. He's been hinting at possible retirement though.  He may be a good stop gap type QB if the Vikings can't keep Cassel and they need a veteran QB.  It's an interesting thought. 

Draft Candidates:

1.  Teddy Bridgewater - Louisville - he seems to be the consensus top QB in the upcoming draft, he's very accurate, he's poised in the pocket, he's got a quick release, he can make all of the throws, he's also pretty athletic, he can keep drives going with his feet when needed and he's pretty good at throwing on the move.  If he were to drop to the Vikings at number 8, I'm pretty sure that he'd be a Viking.  
2.  Derek Carr - Fresno State - Carr has moved up to number 2 on my list of QB's in the upcoming draft.  He probably has the best arm of all of the draftable quarterbacks, he can make all of the throws, he's got great velocity, he can drive the ball down the field, I think that he'd be a great fit in a Norv Turner offense.  He had a great Senior Bowl week too, I have to believe that his value will skyrocket.  He's got some critics though, most centering around his performance against USC in the recent Las Vegas Bowl when he struggled against a higher level of competition and the other quite frankly having to do with the lack of success that his brother David Carr had in the NFL.  Personally, I think he'd be worth the gamble for the Vikings at number 8.  
3. Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M - tool wise, I don't think that Manziel stacks up with most of the top QB's in the upcoming draft.  He's got that "IT" factor though, he just wins, he's the ultimate competitor, he's a great leader, he's exciting, he'd put people in the seats.  That may sound a little bit like a Tim Tebow comparison but that would be unfair because Manziel has some decent QB skills too.  My comp would be Fran Tarkenton, tremendous scrambler, great at buying time, very good vision down field, ability to hurt you with his feet as well as his arm.  Wherever he winds up in the NFL, I can't wait to watch him play.  
4. Blake Bortles - Central Florida - Bortles really put himself on the map as a senior.  He's a big guy, he's got a strong arm, he's a good athlete, he's got a good pocket presence, he can throw on the move, he can also move the chains with his feet (Colin Kaepernick?).  His mechanics do need some work though and there are questions about his accuracy on the deep ball.  Those one year wonders also scare me some.  I'm torn on this one, there's a lot to like, I'm just not sure if he'd be a good fit in the system that Norv Turner will be bringing with him to Minnesota.  
5. Zach Mettenberg - LSU -  he's a big, strong armed QB who can drive the ball down the field.  He played, and thrived in the best conference in college football.  He does have some injury concerns.  I don't see him going in the first round but I'm guessing he does go somewhere in round 2 of the draft. If all the QB's they like are gone in the first round, or they decided to trade down, I could see the Vikings drafting Mettenberg and grooming him to be their QB. 
6. Jimmy Garoppolo - Eastern Illinois - Tony Romo II?  He comes from the same school and he's also got the same quick release as Romo. He had a great Senior Bowl week and seems to have opened a lot of eyes, he may be a better fit in a west coast offense though. He's an intriguing prospect.

My educated guess?  I'm guessing that Ponder and Freeman are gone.  I'm guessing that Matt Cassel comes back and goes into training camp as the starting QB.  I'm also guessing that the Vikings draft a QB in either round 1 or 2 of the 2014 NFL Draft who they will groom to be the long term answer at QB (Derek Carr?).  I also see Joe Webb sticking around as a WR/QB/Special Teams hybrid.