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Teddy Bridgewater Impressive, but Matt Cassel Likely to Open Camp as Starter

The Minnesota Vikings seem to have a good problem at the quarterback position after selecting former Louisville star Teddy Bridgewater in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft last month. 

Bridgewater joins veterans Matt Cassel and Christian Ponder in a three-way competition for the starting quarterback job. ESPN is reporting that Cassel figures to open training camp running with starting unit. 

Bridgewater got some first-team snaps Thursday, but 32-year-old Matt Cassel did the majority of the work with the Vikings’ starting offense and figures to go into training camp as the starting quarterback.

This doesn’t mean Cassel will be the starter against the St. Louis Rams in Week 1. Bridgewater, who brings a much different dynamic to the table, has been impressive thus far this offseason.

For Minnesota, the decision is two fold. Does it rush Bridgewater into the starting role in order to get him some experience or does it give him a season to learn behind the veteran Cassel? Another thing that needs to be taken into account here is who might give Minnesota the best chance to contend for a playoff spot in 2014. If that guy is Bridgewater, he will likely start.

While the Vikings have gone on record indicating Ponder is firmly in the competition, that seems to be a PR ploy more than anything else. Look for them to put him on the trade block during camp, at which point a quarterback-needy team may come calling.

Photo: USA Today

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