The Vikings coaches and personnel department have been in Mobile, Alabama, this week studying and evaluating prospects at the Senior Bowl.

Our friend Tim Yotter of Viking Update also was at the Senior Bowl practices and had a chance to talk to Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel.

The Vikings have made it clear they are hoping to find a franchise-type quarterback this offseason. You need a subscription to access Vikingupdate.com, but here is what Spielman had to say about the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl. (Remember, underclassmen Blaine Gabbert of Missouri, Cam Newton of Auburn and Ryan Mallett of Arkansas are not there.)

"We're going through that process right now," Spielman said. "I haven't had an opportunity to start looking at the younger ones who came out," Spielman said. "(I'm) looking at these and trying to get a chance to know these kids down here, but there's going to be a group of quarterbacks – even if they're not in the first round – I think there's a lot of depth as you go through the draft that we may be able to grab one or two that potentially could help you down the road as well."

Coach Leslie Frazier has talked numerous times about his quarterback situation since officially being named head coach. He was asked about it again by NFL.com at the Senior Bowl.

"We're the one team in our division that doesn't have a concrete starter," Frazier said. "We're kind of looking up at the rest of our division at that position, but we've got to address that this offseason and hopefully find the right guy. One thing about our roster, we've got the pieces in place at certain positions. We've got Pro Bowlers at certain positions.

Spielman told Yotter the Vikings interviewed every player at the Senior Bowl. A record 56 underclassmen entered their names in the draft so the team will have a chance to interview many of them at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"Very excited about (the prospects)," Spielman said. "Think they had a lot of juniors come out. I think it was the biggest class in a while. We're going to have a lot of work cut out for us when we get back [to Minnesota]. The depth that we're seeing here at the Senior Bowl, plus with the juniors coming in, we're very excited. I think it's going to be a good draft."

"We've got find that balance, what's best for us. So we've got to explore all avenues. We don't think we're that far away, but we have to get the right guy under center. Otherwise, we'll fall further behind people in our division. The two teams that played in the NFC Championship Game (Green Bay and Chicago) are from our division. That tells you we've got a tough division. We've got to get it right at quarterback, whether it be a veteran or a young guy."