2014 DBN Mock Draft: Minnesota Vikings Select QB Derek Carr at No. 8

With the eighth pick in the 2014 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...

Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State

This selection and write-up was made by PaduaDSP:

Rick Spielman missed on Christian Ponder a few years ago and he gets a rare second chance to find a franchise QB for the team he runs. Carr has just about everything one could desire in a QB. He has an above average arm, is a solid athlete and comes with a considerable amount of experience from playing 4 years of college football. Carr has some issues to work out at the next level but Carr is the ideal fit for the Vikings new offensive system and will give Spielman and new Head Coach Mike Zimmer a QB they can build around.

Browns fans are familiar with the offense Minnesota will be running this year as our old friend Norv Turner has taken over the offensive coordinator duties under Mike Zimmer. Turner’s vertical passing offense is a perfect fit for the strong armed and athletic Carr.  Carr’s accuracy and decision making are ideal traits for any young QB to posses and should serve him well in Turner's system. If Carr works out some of the issues that surround his game, footwork and throwing under pressure being the most important, he should be able to shine in Norv's offense.

Carr has a chance to come in and play right away for a Minnesota team that has plenty in the way back up QBs but nothing in the way of starting caliber NFL QBs. With the leagues best RB lining up behind Carr he won’t have to carry the entire offensive load and can be brought along slowly while still going through the rookie growing pains that almost all young QBs experience.

This would be the right move for new head coach Mike Zimmer -- forget about the lackluster play that Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel provide, and replace them with Derek Carr. With as good of a running back as Adrian Peterson is, he shelf life can't be very much longer, so they need to hope Carr can deliver early.

The Buffalo Bills are up next, led by Stigosaurus.

2014 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)