Is a Talented Vikings Playmaker in a Make-or-Break Year?
The opportunity is there for Jalen Nailor, a third-year wide receiver with ample speed, to become a key piece in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
The talented Vikings playmaker was drafted in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s infamous 2022 haul. Seeing Nailor develop into a strong No. 3 receiver would go a long way in helping to redeem that draft class. Availability, or lack thereof, has been the main issue for Mr. Nailor. Can that issue get fixed and can he force his way onto the field?
Jalen Nailor, a Talented Vikings Playmaker, Has a Shot at WR3
Right now, Brandon Powell is the clear favorite to be the WR3.
Shifty and versatile, Powell will mostly live in the slot. From that position, the veteran journeyman will focus on juking defenders out of their cleats as he looks to pick up yards after the catch. He had 29 catches, 324 yards, and 1 touchdown last season, averaging a reasonably strong 11.2 yards per catch. He was given a raise in the offseason, brought back on a single-season deal that’s kicking over $2 million.
Again, he’s the frontrunner to be the WR3.
Jalen Nailor, however, offers something that could be enticing to Kevin O’Connell: some proficiency getting open deep down the field.
Nailor has just average size at 6’0” and 190 pounds. Last season, he played in a half dozen games and turned 3 catches into 29 yards. There was one game – the Week 10 victory over the Saints – where he played a lot, snagging 67 snaps (92% of the total for Minnesota). However, he had just a single target and catch, going for 16 yards in the Joshua Dobbs-led game.
Otherwise, he picked up 5 targets for 2 catches and 13 yards in the Raiders game from Week 13. Fans with a memory may recall that offense wasn’t abundant in that contest; Minnesota won by a score of 3-0. Did Dobbs struggle to get the ball to the young wideout? Does that partially explain the modest numbers in those games?
Nailor’s task is to get back to the explosiveness he showed as a rookie when he averaged a whopping 19.9 yards per catch. Now, keep in mind that there were only 13 targets and 9 catches, but it’s an eye-popping total.
Former Vikings GM Jeff Diamond recently spoke about the receiver, noting that the current year looks like a major one:
Time for Nailor to step up: Jefferson and Jordan Addison are as good as or possibly better than any WR duo in the league. The Vikings have waited on Jalen Nailor for a couple of years, and it’s time for him to stay healthy and prove he’s worthy of the third receiver role where he can bring his speed to the mix. Brandon Powell or Trent Sherfield would be better as fourth and fifth WRs.
Minnesota’s abundant skill is going to mean Jalen Nailor gets a ton of one-on-one looks. There could even be moments where he gets entirely lost in coverage. Plus, if Aaron Jones shines, then defenses may even need to load the box a bit more. The defense, in short, may soon feel like its in a no-win scenario if Minnesota gets at least pretty good QB play.
From within that context, Nailor needs to not just stay healthy and on the field, but be someone who gets open deep. Helping Minnesota become more vertical will be perhaps the main way Nailor can help the Vikings.
If successful, Minnesota’s already loaded offense will become even more difficult to corral.
Jalen Nailor, 25, carries a $1,030,165 cap charge into the season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.