The Minnesota Vikings have been the NFL's busiest team Tuesday.
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Minutes after reaching a deal with pass rusher Anthony Barr, the team announced the signing of No. 32 overall pick Teddy Bridgewater.
Coach Mike Zimmer has made it clear that Bridgewater will compete with Matt Cassel for the starting job, and the organization obviously hopes the rookie will win out.
We have debated on the "Around The League Podcast" and in print whether Bridgewater or Matt Cassel is the favorite to start the season opener.
Recent history suggests the rookie out of Louisville will get the nod if he shows any signs of encouraging play in preseason action. Over the past two seasons, all six quarterbacks drafted in the first or early second round have gone on to start in Week 1.
If the Vikings boasted a shutdown defense worthy of favorite status in the NFC North, it would make plenty of sense to go with a more stable veteran in the caretaker role on offense. For a team with so many talented but unproven young players in key roles, though, Cassel offers little appeal.
In a similar situation as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator in 2011, Zimmer watched rookie Andy Dalton lead an inexperienced attack to the playoffs.
Bridgewater is the future in Minnesota. By the end of August, we should learn if he's also the present.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" breaks down the latest news and shares takeaways from rookie camps.
