Former Vikings First Rounder Looks to Help Seahawks Make Playoff Run
Josh Frey
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It’s been an up-and-down journey for former Vikings first rounder and NFL wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. The 23rd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft is yet to really catch on anywhere on an NFL roster and has been on four teams over the course of his seven-year NFL career. Now, Treadwell looks to help the Seahawks make one final push towards the playoffs.
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After spending the better portion of two months on Seattle’s practice squad, the Seahawks have officially signed Treadwell to their active roster this week. Seattle, currently 7-7, had elevated him the maximum three times and needed to sign him to the 53-man in order to play him again this season. In his three games that he played, he caught his only target and gained a single yard.
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.
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.
As we head into Week 16, the Seahawks find themselves on the outside of the NFC’s playoff picture. If the season ended today, they would be the 8th team in the conference, tied with the surging Detroit Lions. We’ll see if Treadwell can provide a spark for them in the closing weeks.
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.