Drew Brees first three NFL Seasons
2002 60.8% completions, 3284 yards, 17 TD, 16 INT, 6.2 Y/A, 76.9 QB Rating
Record of 8-8
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson 1683 yards, 14 TD
Top receivers - Curtis Conway, Tim Dwight
2003 57.6% completions, 2108 yards, 11 TD, 15 INT, 5.9 Y/A, 67.5 QB Rating
Record of 4-12
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson 1645 yards, 13 TD, 100 catches
Top receivers - David Boston, Eric Parker
2004 65.5% completions, 3159 yards, 27 TD, 7 INT, 7.9 Y/A, 104.8 QB Rating
Record of 12-4
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson 1335 yards, 17 TD
Top receivers - Eric Parker, Antonio Gates
Christian Ponder first two NFL seasons
2011 54.3% completions, 1853 yards, 13 TD, 13 INT, 6.4 Y/A, 70.1 QB Rating
Record of 3-13
RB - Adrian Peterson 970 yards, 12 TD
Top receivers - Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins, Devin Aromashodu
2012 62.6% completions, 2394 yards, 14 TD, 12 INT, 6.0 Y/A, 78.3 QB Rating
Record of 7-6
RB - Adrian Peterson 1600 yards, 10 TD
Top receivers - Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins
In terms of skill set, Brees (or possibly Romo) is the elite QB that Ponder most closely resembles. The similarity between the two situations is crazy. Both Brees and Ponder had elite RBs to hand off to, but are seriously lacking in great receivers. I'm not saying Ponder is a guarantee, but with the huge jump that Brees made in his third year, the Vikings would have to be crazy to not give him another shot next year. I agree with getting a veteran QB just in case, but sometimes, you need to be patient with a QB's development.