We are now three weeks into our offseason roster breakdown. If you missed last week’s article covering the running backs, you’ll want to make sure to check it out, as we broke down how Dalvin Cook might want to hold out until he gets a new deal. Low and behold, reports started surfacing last week about Cook and how he is refusing to participate in offseason activities until he gets a new deal.
This week, we move on to the wide receivers. Entering last season, the Minnesota Vikings had one of the best wide receiver groups in the entire NFL. Adam Thielen had fully emerged as a breakout player, while on the other side of the field, Stefon Diggs was fresh off one of the best plays in the history of the league (the Minneapolis Miracle). The two players are both young, and it seemed the Vikings would be set at the position for many years to come. One year later and Diggs is gone, leaving Adan Thielen and a bunch of young players. The team will be worse at the position, but just how far they will fall remains to be seen.
Adam Thielen is unquestionably the star of the group now. Unfortunately, 2019 was the first time in his six-year career the local kid missed any time. He only played in 10 games last year and was held to only 30 catches for 418 yards – his lowest total since becoming a starter in 2016 – although he was able to snag six touchdowns, which tied for the team lead. If he can stay healthy, those numbers will undoubtedly go up, but without another star at receiver, teams will be game-planning to take him out of the equation.
With Diggs being traded to Buffalo, the team spent the first-round pick they received on WR Justin Jefferson from LSU. Jefferson was a breakout star and seemed to shine brightest on the biggest stages, averaging nearly 150 yards per game in the college football playoffs and championship game (including a 14 catch, 227-yard, four-touchdown performance against Oklahoma). He will likely take a couple of years to develop, but he seems like a nice replacement for Diggs.
After Thielen and Jefferson, the rest of the WR room is a crapshoot. One player who figures to get plenty of playing time if Tajae Sharpe, who the team signed in free agency. Bisi Johnson is another player who is almost guaranteed a roster spot, after playing well as a rookie last season. With those four spots likely locked up, that leaves eight players vying for the final WR roster spot.
Bralon Addison – after bouncing around the NFL, Addison went to Canada where he starred in the CFL.
Chad Beebe – a fan favorite, Beebe always seems to flash in training camp and then is unable to do anything when the regular season rolls around.
Dan Chisena – he’s a former track star who turned his attention to football for his last two years at Penn State. He is a long shot to make the roster.
Davion Davis – he was a rookie last season and ended 2019 on the team’s practice squad.
Quartney Davis – a rookie out of Texas A&M, Davis will have a hard time making the Vikings’ roster.
Alexander Hollins – an undrafted rookie last season, he spent most of the year on the practice squad before being called up in week 13.
Dillon Mitchell – another rookie who was on the Vikings’ practice squad last season.
K.J. Osborn – another former track star, Osborn’s best chance of making the roster will be as a kick and punt returner.
Who do you think will win the final WR roster spot? Reach out to me on Twitter and let me know (@JordanWrightNFL). Skol!