Vikings Show Interest in Big-Bodied WR Prospect at Combine
The Draft is less than two months away and it’s unclear in which direction the Vikings will go in the three-day event. Wide receiver is not viewed as a top offseason need for the Minnesota Vikings, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from doing its homework on the position ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, with Jalen Nailor’s future with the club unclear as he enters free agency, as well as Jordan Addison’s off-field issues and looming contract demands.
This week, the Vikings have made first steps to acquiring a pass-catcher in the Draft, as they reportedly chatted with USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane. The receiver was asked at the podium if he had met with the franchise and he confirmed an informal meeting.
That, of course, doesn’t mean that he’ll eventually end up in the Twin Cities, but it signals the Vikings are at least evaluating the position group ahead of April.
Lane spent three seasons at USC, starting over the last two next to projected 1st-rounder Makai Lemon. As a WR2 in the Big Ten, he caught 43 passes for 525 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024, followed by a season with 49 receptions for 745 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025.
Unlike the players the Vikings already have on the team in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Lane wins with size rather than technique. The 6’4″, 200 lbs WR ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine, and he also impressed with a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10’9″ broad jump.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described his skill set, “Lane is a red-zone stalwart with elite length and ball skills to mismatch cornerbacks when he’s given room to work. He struggles playing through contact and sees an unusually high number of contested catches, but his catch radius, hand-eye coordination and focus give him a substantial advantage as a ball-winner. He might need releases schemed against heavy press teams and certain limbs on the route tree will be dead for him. Lane has the confidence and talent to become a productive pro and red-zone specialist, though.”
The Vikings haven’t had a true tall red-zone receiver in a long time. Though both Jefferson and Addison have shown a knack for claiming contested catch-opportunities, they lack Lane’s tall frame to be considered true contested-catch demons. Lane could fill that void.
The USC alum is considered a Day 2 Draft prospect, expected to be a 3rd-round pick by NFL Mock Draft Database. The Vikings will have a couple of picks in that round, with their own 3rd-rounder, plus an expected compensatory pick for Sam Darnold’s departure a year ago.
Minnesota has to reshape its passing attack after a disappointing 2025 season. While the identity of the starting quarterback is unsure at the moment, that passer is envisioned to throw the ball to some intriguing weapons. Nailor, however, could depart in March, as he is an unrestricted free agent and could draw some interest on the open market.
Last year’s 3rd-rounder Tai Felton could sneak into his role, but adding competition such as Lane makes sense. There’s no “too many weapons”.
While an informal Combine meeting doesn’t guarantee draft interest, it does confirm Lane is on Minnesota’s radar. If the Vikings look to add size and a red-zone presence to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the USC wideout fits the profile of a mid-round target worth monitoring as the draft approaches.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.