Former Vikings First-Round Pick Signs with Another Bird Team
Josh Frey
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Laquon Treadwell apparently likes the NFL’s bird teams because he did it again this week. The former Vikings first-round pick signed a third contract with a bird-themed NFL team, joining the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on Tuesday.
Treadwell was drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 23rd overall pick. He played three seasons at Ole Miss, and he recorded 202 receptions, 2393 receiving yards, and 21 TDs. In his final season of 2015, he caught 82 balls for 1153 yards and 11 TDs for a Rebels team that went 10-3 and dominated Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl.
With the Vikings, Treadwell simply never caught on in the offense. He played just nine games in his rookie year of 2016. The rookie receiver couldn’t find playing time in a passing offense headlined by Stefon Diggs, Cordarrelle Patterson, Kyle Rudolph, and Adam Thielen. He was targeted just three times throughout the year and caught one pass for 15 yards.
The Vikings opted not to re-sign Treadwell when his contract expired in 2020, and that’s when his bird tour began. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons, playing in five games and recorded six receptions for 49 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In 2021, Treadwell took a hiatus from the bird tour and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. To date, this was his best season in the NFL, recording 33 catches for 454 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded 50+ receiving yards in six consecutive games.
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Because of this strong campaign, it’s interesting that Treadwell hasn’t caught on anywhere in 2022. He signed with the New England Patriots ahead of preseason. He also had a stint with the Arizona Cardinals that ended just prior to their game against the Vikings.
Days later, Treadwell joins the Seahawks practice squad, and he officially has had contracts with three of the five bird teams in the NFL. The only ones that remain are the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. At this rate, he could finish the gauntlet by the end of the regular season.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.