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The 2014 NFL Draft class for the quarterback position is extremely deep and there could be as many as four taken in the first 10 picks. Fresno State's Derek Carr has bounced between different teams within the top 10, and the latest mock draft from Sports Illustrated keeps that theme going.
Carr is the fourth quarterback taken behind Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel and the surging Blake Bortles out of Central Florida. The Minnesota Vikings are projected to take Carr with their eighth pick:
That Vikings fans would be skittish over this pick is understandable. The last time they attempted to draft a franchise QB, with Christian Ponder in 2011, they flopped miserably. Carr has issues with his mechanics to work out and played in a very QB-friendly offense. This is not a slam dunk.
But the Vikings need a quarterback, and Carr's skill level makes him worth the risk. Minnesota has the O-line Carr needs in front of him, plus catch-and-go weapons like Cordarrelle Patterson. Carr could erase the Ponder mistake.
Minnesota has plenty of quarterback issues with Christian Ponder and then the signing of Josh Freeman which did not work. Luckily for Carr, the Vikings have a good offensive line and one of the best running backs to ever play the game in Adrian Peterson.
With the struggles of which ever quarterback Minnesota trotting out there this past season there will be a very good chance that Carr could be the opening day starter in 2014.
