Draft Prediction: The Minnesota Vikings Will Draft a Wide Receiver
Noah Moore
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While the main focus of this offseason has been on shoring up the defense, most notably at the cornerback position, another position the Vikings need to improve is the wide receiver position.
It’s true that the Vikings need help at the corner. As of right now, the top two are Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler. Neither are lockdown corners. So, it is true that the Vikings need to draft a starting corner, especially to run new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell’s scheme.
However, another position the Minnesota Vikings need help at is the wide receiver position. The Vikings do have one of the best young wide receivers in the league in Justin Jefferson, as well as one of the best veteran wide receivers in Adam Thielen. Behind them, though, the roster is somewhat thin.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart
1) Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is one of the most talented young receivers in the league. If the Vikings are able to pair Jefferson with a deep threat or a dangerous slot receiver to draw attention away, opposing defenses are going to have issues game-planning for the Vikings’ offense.
2) Adam Thielen
Adam Thielen is also one of the most talented receivers in the league. However, in contrast to Jefferson, Thielen is on the back nine of his professional career. Thielen will turn 32 by the time the 2022 season starts. He has also recently dealt with injuries. Throughout his first five seasons in the league, Thielen played in every game. Over the past three, he has missed 11 games. Although Thielen is still an elite talent, as evidenced by his ten touchdown receptions last year, it is reasonable to expect his production to drop off over the next couple of years.
3) K.J. Osborn
K.J. Osborn has been a pleasant surprise for the Vikings since getting drafted out of the University of Miami in 2020. In his rookie year, Osborn didn’t really see the field as a receiver. Then, last season, he had a bit of a breakout, recording 50 receptions for 655 yards and 7 touchdowns. His most memorable moment was a game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Panthers. This is pretty good production for a fifth-round pick and Osborn has (for now) secured the third receiver spot on the roster. However, he is not quite yet the kind of player that will draw attention away from Jefferson and Thielen.
4) Ihmir Smith-Marsette
The fourth wide receiver on the roster, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, was able to flash his speed at times. But, for the most part, he was unable to contribute much to the offense, recording only 5 receptions in his rookie year.
5) Olabisi Johnson
The fifth wide receiver on the roster, Olabisi Johnson, showed the requisite abilities to make the roster as the third or fourth receiver. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2021 season due to an ACL injury.
Conclusion
While some Vikings fans were convinced by KAM implying that the Vikings are not focused on drafting wide receivers at yesterday’s press conference, I don’t think that we should jump to this conclusion.
If you look at the Vikings wide receiver depth chart, there is definite room for improvement. Osborn is a good #3 receiver. But Thielen, Jefferson, and Osborn are not quite the 3 Deep of the 90s. An explosive third receiver would create definite match-up issues for defensive coordinators next season.
And remember, when the Minnesota Vikings drafted Randy Moss, wide receiver was not a position of need. They already had Cris Carter and Jake Reed. If the Vikings see a receiver on the board that they like on Thursday night, I predict they will pull the trigger.
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