A Quiet Vikings Rookie Could Heat Up in 2026
The Minnesota Vikings selected wideout Tai Felton in the 3rd round of last April’s NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he was barely used on offense and his impact was strictly limited to special teams work. Felton wants to change that in 2026, however.
Tai Felton Focused on Growth
Coming out of the University of Maryland, nobody was too surprised that Felton couldn’t gain any traction in his rookie year, given the depth chart and his raw skill set he entered the league with.
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson chatted with Felton shortly after the season finale, asking the first-year player if he believed his sophomore season would bring a big leap for him.
Felton’s response, “Yeah, 100 percent. I feel like, however you control your mental aspect, not being too hard on yourself, not being too down on yourself, and always believing it’s gonna be better down the road, and if you put in that hard work, it’s all gonna show out. It’s definitely between the ears for sure. Just making sure I know the playbook like the back of my hand, that’s one of the biggest things.”
His career at Maryland was quite productive. The speedy weapon generated 2,207 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns as a pass-catcher and another 39 yards on the ground. He was the go-to target in college, but was still raw as a route-runner.
In the Twin Cities, his road to meaningful snaps has been rocky, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison cemented as the top duo, followed by explosive WR3 Jalen Nailor and even veteran Adam Thielen, who was acquired ahead of the season opener.
Ultimately, Felton caught three passes for 25 yards. He still had value on special teams, where he was one of the better gunners in punt coverage and he provided solid play on kickoffs. Felton made nine tackles in his rookie campaign.
Wolfson also asked Felton if his goal was to earn the WR3 job in 2026. He replied, “That’s not my call; whatever happens, happens. But I’m gonna make sure when I come in here I’m ready, so whatever the team asks me to do, whether that’s special teams or playing receiver, I’ll make sure I’m ready.”
The key player in that calculation is Nailor. Thielen is already out of the equation, leaving only the top trio. Nailor’s contract is set to expire and if he signs a deal elsewhere in free agency, there would be an opportunity for Felton to take over.
Given that Nailor was the one receiver J.J. McCarthy actually had a connection with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Vikings try to keep him in the building, but he certainly won’t get a blank check as the WR3. A player of his caliber will likely receive some significant offers in March.
Vikings WR coach Keenan McCardell worked with Felton at his Pro Day. He revealed after the draft, “It was a really good workout. I told him, ‘Hey, man, you got me thinking now. If I get a chance, I’m going to fight to get you.’ … He can play special teams and do a lot of things to help us as a team, first, and then as a receiver. I think he’s going to be a good Viking for a long time.”
He’s been a Viking for one season, and he’s under contract for three more. It remains to be seen whether he’ll get more run in his sophomore season, but the opportunity may present itself.
Felton will turn 23 in March.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.