The Minnesota Vikings began last season with the third-oldest roster in the NFL and they ended it with the 12th overall pick in the coming April draft.

They’re going to try to make the transition from old you young on the fly and how they do that depends largely on what they come up with in terms of a quarterback. It’s the age-old issue that separates the haves and the have-nots in the NFL.

"We're going to be a younger team for sure going into next season," vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Rookies are going to get forced into action. They are going to have to step up and play. I also have a lot of confidence in our coaching staff and their history of developing young guys and getting them ready to play."

Spielman is letting everyone know he’s interested in picking up a third-round pick in the draft. The Vikings peddled theirs to the New England Patriots in the ill-conceived Randy Moss trade. The Vikings would likely have to trade down to the bottom of the second round or out of the round to recoup the pick. The team does have seven picks, though, as it has the fifth-round pick from the New York Giants from the Sage Rosenfels-Darius Reynaud trade.

“This year you're going to have to bring in new players and younger talent," Spielman said. "It's exciting, it's a challenge.”

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune