NEW ORLEANS -- Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is scheduled to visit the Vikings in April, according to the National Football Post. That is no surprise given that the team continues to take a close look at all the available top quarterbacks in next month's draft. Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, confirmed today that team officials dined with Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert last week after watching Gabbert at his Pro Day. Spielman spoke to the media shortly after arriving at the NFL meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier also saw Gabbert at his Pro Day. The Vikings are known to be looking closely at Gabbert, Auburn's Cam Newton, Washington's Jake Locker, TCU's Andy Dalton and Mallett, who has had to deal with reports about potential off-the-field issues. It's also likely the Vikings are keeping a close eye on Florida State's Christian Ponder and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick. Spielman and Frazier aren't confirming which quarterbacks have had or will have private workouts but indicated that six to eight quarterbacks will get a close look from a team that is set to draft 12th in the first round and must address the position. Spielman also said the Vikings will have their top 30 dinner next month at Winter Park. The Vikings bring in 30 draft-eligible players for the event and Mallett appears to be on that list. Asked if he had become enamored with any specific quarterback prospects, Frazier said: "I'm trying to be open minded until we finish some of these private workouts but it's hard not to when you watch a certain tape and go, 'Oh man, this is the guy.' Then you put on another tape and go, 'Wait a minute. This guy …' So you have to be a little careful and just go through the process. But each one of them, they all have good qualities of some type." Etc.

  • Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is expected to arrive later today for the meetings, which will get into full swing on Monday. Team President Mark Wilf already has arrived. He declined to comment when asked about the NFL lockout and the team's current stadium situation. It appears Zygi or Mark will talk later this week at the meetings.