Report: Vikings to work out Christian Ponder on way to see Cam Newton

The Minnesota Vikings apparently will make a pitstop on their way to work out Cam Newton.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder will work out for Vikings officials on Tuesday in Tallahassee, Fla., NFL.com reported. Newton's private workout with the Vikings is scheduled for Wednesday on campus at Auburn.

So, with a little less than a month to the NFL Draft, the Vikings will have spent extra time with perhaps the top four quarterback prospects.

Coach Leslie Frazier, vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman and others recently attended Blaine Gabbert's campus workout and dined with the Missouri quarterback. They also reportedly conducted a private workout with Washington's Jake Locker.

Gabbert appears to be their top choice, but he may be long gone before they draft at No. 12 overall, barring a trade. Accuracy issues, among other things, make Newton and Locker seem less likely targets than Ponder, who has battled arm injuries but is regarded as a more complete package.

The National Football Post reported the Vikings also worked out Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi earlier this month, and the team reportedly has visits set up with Arkansas' Ryan Mallett and TCU's Andy Dalton, most likely at next month's "Top 30" dinner at Winter Park.

Of the eight quarterbacks regarded as first- or second-tier prospects in this year's draft, the only one with no known, private contact with the Vikings is Nevada's Colin Kaepernick. However, team officials have had two chances to see and speak with Kaepernick -- at the Senior Bowl and the scouting combine -- so perhaps that was enough to complete their evaluation.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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