Auburn had its Pro Day yesterday, and many people thought it was a bit curious that Rick Spielman wasn't there to watch quarterback Cam Newton in person. Well, it turns out that there's a reason for that.
According to Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Vikings are one of many teams that are going to be bringing Newton in for a private workout. According to Cecil Newton. . .who is, apparently, part of the package (and, therefore, enough reason to avoid the younger Newton, in my opinion). . .Newton will also be working out for the Bills, Panthers, and Redskins.
I don't mind the fact that the Vikings are bringing in Newton, but I really don't think there's even a remote chance that he'll be there when the Vikings select at number 12. Minnesota drafting Cam Newton would probably require a trade up, probably into the top five. For a team that's already without a third-round pick and that has numerous holes, the Vikings simply can't afford to expend the ammunition it would take them to take a player as risky as Cam Newton.
Spielman has said that the Vikings would have private workouts with many of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft. That could explain why he wasn't at Arkansas, another team that held their Pro Day yesterday, watching Ryan Mallett. From all accounts, he may still be running the 40-yard dash he started yesterday, but that doesn't matter. . .Ryan Mallet's 40-yard dash time has every bit as much relevance to me as Mike Pouncey's completion percentage. The more I see of Mallett and the more I hear about him. . .the less opposed I would be to the Vikings taking him at #12 (or slightly later in the first round, if they could finagle a trade down).
The Vikings are taking a quarterback early in this year's draft, folks. . .it's just a matter of which one. I get the feeling that they'll have plenty of time with each of the top prospects to make that determination.