Christian Ponder says he wasn’t surprised the Vikings made him the 12th overall pick in last month’s draft. That would put him in the clear minority, because it was a move the surprised nearly everyone else.

While the rumblings continue over the mutual interest between the Vikings and Donovan McNabb, for now the Vikings are without a veteran quarterback on the roster. Many expect that to change when free agency opens, but the Vikings’ depth chart at quarterback currently goes three-deep: Ponder, second-year man Joe Webb and Rhett Bomar.

Ponder, who took part in a rookie roundtable on NFL Network, offered some insight as to how he’s approaching his first season.

“My view is that I was picked No. 12, they believe in me, and I believe in myself,” Ponder told NFL Network’s Fran Charles. ”From that time I got picked, my mindset was I’m going in to take the starting job. … I have to earn it first, but my mindset is I’m going in and hopefully starting from Day 1.”

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