Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has ruled out the possibility of trading quarterback Christian Ponder despite having a high pick in the first round of this month's Draft.
Ponder was chosen with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 Draft but is yet to fulfil his potential in Minnesota, with the Vikings also using Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman last season.
The team is now understood to be in the market for a quarterback with their eighth overall pick in this year's Draft, but Spielman believes that they will also need to keep hold of Ponder regardless of who they choose.
"[Releasing Ponder] would leave us with one quarterback. I would not do that. We're going to need two quarterbacks. Three," Spielman told reporters.
"Christian's still a very young quarterback. He's shown flashes, but he just hasn't been as consistent as you want yet. You can't be afraid. If there's a guy there, regardless of position, that you have strong feelings for, whether it's at 8 or 40, or wherever it is, then you take him.
"The one thing you cannot be afraid [of] in this job is to take chances or take risks on guys you feel strongly about. When you don't do that, I don't know how you get better."
Former Vikings defensive end Chris Doleman has urged Spielman to make the right choice in this year's Draft by choosing a play-calling quarterback with their first-round pick.
Barney Corkhill
