ESPN Lays Out the Top Vikings Roster Need
The Vikings came into the 2024 NFL offseason with a few glaring needs on their roster.
For the most part, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done a stellar job at filling those needs, but Minnesota still has a couple questionable areas of their roster heading into the summer. On Thursday, ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz handed out the top roster needs for all 32 teams, including the Vikings.
ESPN Lays Out the Top Vikings Roster Need
Schatz tabbed slot receiver as the number one need for the Vikings and explained, “Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are an awesome team on the outside, but the Vikings’ receiving corps really falls off after those two. Brandon Powell is likely the starting slot receiver. He did manage an average DVOA on 44 targets in 2023, but his 324 receiving yards represented a career high after six years in the league.”
As of now, the number of receivers on the Vikings roster isn’t necessarily a problem, but the quality of receivers may be. Here is a look at Minnesota’s current depth chart at the position:
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Brandon Powell
WR4: Trent Sherfield
WR5: Jalen Nailor
WR6: Lucky Jackson
WR7: Malik Knowles
WR8: Thayer Thomas
WR9: Trishton Jackson
WR10: N’Keal Harry
WR11: Ty James
WR12: Jeshaun Jones
WR13: Devron Harper
Outside of Addison and Jefferson, there isn’t a single player on the roster who have recorded at least 500 receiving yards in the NFL. Trent Sherfield came closest in 2022 with the Miami Dolphins with 417 yards, but he saw his production dip back down to just 11 receptions for 86 yards and a single touchdown in 2023 with the Buffalo Bills.
Of course, the Vikings watched K.J. Osborn leave the team in free agency, taking away the player who has held the WR3 role for the past three seasons in Minnesota. Osborn has recorded at least 540 yards in each season since 2021.
Minnesota’s need at wide receiver is further exasperated by the fact that T.J. Hockenson is likely to miss at least some of the 2024 season as he continues to recover from his ACL tear last December. The tight end has recorded 155 receptions for 1479 yards and eight touchdowns in his first 25 regular season games with the Vikings, averaging over six receptions per game.
Because the Vikings are going to employ either Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy as their starting QB this season, it would make things a lot easier on the new quarterback (whichever player ends up winning the battle) to be surrounded with plenty of talent.
For now, Brandon Powell likely is the favorite to win the job. He held down the role throughout Justin Jefferson’s injury last year, and the veteran put together career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
Mandatory minicamp will begin in a little less than a month.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.