In theory, the Vikings might love to start rookie quarterback Christian Ponder on day one and let him learn on the job.
In reality, the team may only have three weeks to get ready for the season and playing a rookie quarterback could be unrealistic and ultimately harmful to the kid’s development. The Vikings can’t assume anything about Ponder until they see more of him and they’ll have to get some veteran alternative.
Enter Kyle Orton?
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen write that Minnesota plans to add a veteran and Orton is on the team’s radar.
Rational minds may disagree, but we’d rather give up a third or fourth-round pick for Orton than whatever Kevin Kolb is going to cost in draft picks and money. (Kolb is obviously out of play for Minnesota, but our opinion holds true for any team.)
Orton is a sensible target for teams like Minnesota, Tennessee, or Miami that want competition at quarterback or a bridge to a rookie quarterback that may not be ready to play well in 2011.