Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder said he has been assured by the team that it won't select a quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft.
The Vikings own the third overall pick in April's draft.
"I have been," Ponder told "The Dan Patrick Show" on Wednesday when asked if he had been informed a quarterback won't be drafted. "I talked to our GM (Rick Spielman) yesterday."
Spielman, who was promoted from vice president of player personnel to GM on Tuesday, gave Ponder a vote of confidence.
"(Coach) Leslie (Frazier) will make the decision on who is starting quarterback. But I have the utmost faith in Christian Ponder," Spielman said. "The quarterback positions, there's a lot of growing pains involved. I have the utmost confidence Christian Ponder will be our franchise quarterback."
Ponder, the No. 12 overall pick in last year's draft out of Florida State, replaced Donovan McNabb as Minnesota's starter in the seventh game. He led the Vikings to a 2-8 record but struggled with injuries, completing 158 of 291 passes for 1,853 yards and 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
