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Kiper's latest mock draft: Vikings pick Blake Bortles

ESPN's Mel Kiper has the Vikings drafting Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles with the eighth overall pick in his latest mock draft.

April 17, 2014 at 11:11PM

Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

New mock draft, new quarterback.

Previously ESPN's Mel Kiper had the Vikings taking Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel with the eighth pick, now it's Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles in his latest mock draft on Thursday.

Bortles was projected to go fourth to the Browns in his previous mock draft (now it's Manziel). Bortles is raw can't start on Week 1. That shouldn't be a problem for the Vikings after resigning Matt Cassel. He possesses the size of a prototypical quarterback, 6-5 and 232 pounds, and has the highest ceiling out of the top three quarterbacks (Manziel and Lousiville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater).

There hasn't been a quarterback that's been regarded top quarterback in the draft, and it will probably become the most fascinating thing to watch in three weeks on Day 1.

Also noteworthy: Bridgewater, Kiper's top player on his Big Board, falls out of the first round. He has the Texans drafting Bridgewater with the 33^rd overall pick. Even with all the nonsense about Bridgewater being published, it's very hard to believe someone that talented doesn't get drafted in the first round.