ESPN Analyst Says 1 Veteran Viking’s Future Is in Doubt with Training Camp Looming
Josh Frey
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In about a month, on August 29th, over 1000 NFL players will be cut as teams trim their rosters down from 90 players to 53 for the regular season, and while some of them will find jobs on different teams, a number will remain jobless or be forced to join practice squads. Ahead of training camp’s start, ESPN analyst Mike Clay listed one veteran Viking whose future is in doubt this year: wide receiver Jalen Reagor.
Clay joined the Purple Insider podcast on Monday where he praised one of the newer Vikings receivers, Brandon Powell, while casting doubt on Reagor’s future with the team.
““I think Powell has done enough as a receiver to be a depth guy who can be a returner-receiver,” Clay said as he discussed the Vikings receiver room. “Reagor, certainly, his scholarship is over. No idea if he even makes the team,” Clay added on the status of the fourth-year receiver.
Reagor was acquired via trade by the Vikings prior to the 2022 season from the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a rather humorous trade for Vikings fans, seeing as the Eagles selected Reagor one pick prior to Minnesota landing Justin Jefferson in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Vikings acquired the former 21st overall pick in exchange for 2023 seventh-round pick and a conditional 2024 fifth-round selection.
With the Vikings, Reagor tallied 8 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in 2022. And of all 31 NFL return men who brought back 15+ punts in 2022, Reagor ranked 31st in the league at 6.2 yards per return. This was the main job that Minnesota brought him in for, so that was never a good sign for the receiver.
Despite Minnesota releasing Adam Thielen during free agency, hypothetically opening up a new spot on the roster for a receiver, Reagor’s fate seems like one set in stone unless something massive changes during camp.
Not only has Jalen Nailor been turning heads on the practice field, while also holding a very similar skillset to Reagor, but the Vikings also drafted Jordan Addison with a first-round selection this spring while bringing in a number of undrafted players at the position to compete for roles on top of the free agency acquisition of Powell.
The Vikings already declined Reagor’s fifth-year option this offseason, displaying a lack of faith in the receiver’s ability to turn things around in the next seven months or so between training camp and the end of the 2023 season. With 13 receivers currently on the roster, it is going to be a fight to get one of the 5-6 final spots when the final 53-man roster is ultimately announced. Reagor is going to have to earn his spot this season despite being a first-round selection just four years ago.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.