NFL teams
Sam Monson, Special to ESPN.com 10y

Bridgewater can win right away

NFL, Minnesota Vikings

Drafting a quarterback in the first round signals the dawning of a new era of hope for a franchise. Quarterbacks have never been more important to NFL teams, and without a legitimate one, it is virtually impossible to sustain success and win consistently.

The Minnesota Vikings have been searching for a new signal-caller at least since Brett Favre came crashing down to earth after a spectacular 2009 season, and have been looking for a long-term answer since Daunte Culpepper's knee was shredded midway through the 2005 season.

Rookie Teddy Bridgewater is the face of that new hope, and while he hasn't yet earned the starting job over veteran Matt Cassel, it seems likely that he'll take over as first-string QB at some point this season. We'll have to wait and see as to whether he is the answer (the early training camp reviews have been positive), but the team has done all it can to ensure he succeeds right away based on the supporting cast it has built around him.

Here's why Bridgewater and the Vikings should be successful early in his career:

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