Kevin O’Connell Proves Prophetic in Praise for Overshadowed Vikings WR
Maybe the full-time WR3 ship has sailed, but that doesn’t mean Trent Sherfield should be totally forgotten.
Kevin O’Connell mentioned the veteran while chatting with the media earlier in the week, praising the depth player for his sturdiness as a run blocker. Of course, Sherfield scored the long touchdown, but that’s not what most impressed Minnesota’s head coach. Using his size and physicality to clear room for the runners is what got O’Connell excited.
Kevin O’Connell, Trent Sherfield, and The WR Competition
At the end of the contest, Mr. Sherfield had turned 6 targets into 3 catches for 46 yards and a score. The touchdown was a long completion: 33 yards.
O’Connell, though, chose to highlight the physicality in the run game. Safe to say that being an excellent blocker is something that makes coaches very happy, especially for a Minnesota team that has underwhelmed when moving the ball on the ground over these past couple seasons.
“A guy that jumped out on the tape for me,” O’Connell explains, “was Trent Sherfield. Really every single one of those 11-personnel runs that popped, including Kene’s long one, I mean he’s really at the point of attack on a lot of those.”
O’Connell goes on: “Trent’s been one of those guys where I was really looking forward to seeing him play because it’s not a thud, it’s not a two-hand touch drill anymore, and I think that’s where Trent tends to thrive.”
O’Connell is exactly right.
Watch that long Nwangwu run and look at how well the receivers do at creating a lane for the runner to explode through after getting past the defensive line. The three receivers are Trishton Jackson, Lucky Jackson, and Sherfield. The latter two names — Lucky Jackson and Trent Sherfield — are the ones who seal off the Raiders’ defensive backs so that Nwangwu can kick it into high gear.
Now, keep in mind that O’Connell saw this coming.
Back in July, O’Connell spoke about how getting the pads on was going to be beneficial for Sherfield. He’s a physical player, so being able to get into a real game where he can go at full speed would be an environment that more readily lends itself to his style of play and what he does well.
Clearly, the Vikings saw physicality on film and knew that Sherfield would be someone who looks better in a helmet and shoulder pads than when it’s just shorts and a t-shirt. Keep in mind that the man has good size, standing at 6’1″ and weighing 205 pounds.
Increasingly, Minnesota’s WR3 competition is looking like one that will be fulfilled in a committee manner. Sherfield can make some plays in the passing game but his main value may come as a run blocker, someone who allows Minnesota to be more multiple when they’re in 11 personnel.
Meanwhile, players like Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, and/or Trishton Jackson could end up being options when there’s a bit more emphasis on more dynamic options for passing the ball.
Sherfield, 28, is carrying a $1,790,000 cap hit into the season. As a Bill in 2023, he had 11 receptions, 86 yards, and 1 touchdown.
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.