Vikings backup QBs - Matt Cassel

Ah, what the hell.

Since we've been preoccupied with the Minnesota Vikings options for backup quarterback the past few days (read my take and Pacifist Viking's take on this issue), I thought I'd take a few minutes to pass along this post Viking Update's John Holler had last week about soon to be ex-Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel possibly landing in Minnesota.

March can be a silly time before free agency starts. There are all sorts of stories and rumors out there put forth by people who don't know what Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is thinking. My first thought when I read Holler's piece was, 'Man, the free agent QB pool really sucks because a guy like Cassel looks pretty good right now.'

You can look up the stats on Cassel yourself. His last two years with the Chiefs have been injury-filled, and when he's played he's often played shitty. Last year the Chiefs thought so much of him they benched him for Brady Quinn. But if you're hot for Matt Moore to be the Vikings backup QB and challenge starter Christian Ponder next season, know that Cassel actually made a Pro Bowl once (2010 - look it up.)

But the fact we're even talking about guys like Moore and Cassel backing up Ponder brings me back to Pacifist Viking's point on Friday about the Vikings not ruling out drafting a QB fairly high in this April's draft. As PV wrote, instead of counting on Ponder - whose resume after two seasons inspires no confidence - to be the answer and signing a veteran backup who can simply keep Minnesota from sinking if Ponder stinks, is not a great plan. Let's be honest, I could see next season breaking any way. This team could go 6-10 or it could win the NFC North (but I'd bet more on the former.) This is not a veteran team that is peaking and is ready to win it all and needs a veteran insurance policy. It's young and building up its roster. So if the team finds a QB they like is available in the second or third round of the draft, why not take him?

This is what Washington did last season when they drafted Robert Griffin III in the first round and then in the fourth round drafted another QB - Kirk Cousins. And now Washington has a franchise QB on the roster, but also another young QB in Cousins who appears to be an asset as well.

So if Vikings general manager Rick Spielman sees fit to draft someone like, say, Ryan Nassib, in the second round or third round of this year's draft, I promise not to stamp up and down and yell 'We should have drafted a wide receiver! Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.' I'll just remember this post and tell myself that Spielman has made a smart investment - selecting the guy who might save the Vikings if Ponder flames out as a pro. Or he might be the guy whom the Vikings will translate into a first round pick from a desperate, QB-needy team a couple of years from now because he's shown he can play but is blocked by Ponder's brilliance.