The Competition for the Final Vikings WR Spots Is Going to Be Fierce
K. Joudry
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It’s easy to forget that the Vikings are among the NFL’s absolute best teams when it comes to drafting and developing WR talent.
Justin Jefferson is already one of the game’s very best receivers. One could make the case that he got snubbed in last year’s All Pro voting. Adam Thielen, moreover, climbed up from humble beginning to solidify himself as a very good NFL receiver. Jefferson and Thielen may end up being the most lethal WR duo in the NFL in 2022.
The emergence of K.J. Osborn last season caught many off guard. It shouldn’t have.
How often have Vikings fans witnessed their team find receiver talent in the draft? Stefon Diggs is perhaps the preeminent example. He went from 5th-round pick to NFL elite in a hurry (and he may be looking for new money in Buffalo). Jefferson was a first rounder, but he has far exceeded expectations. Jarius Wright was a modest success, as is Bisi Johnson.
In other words, Osborn’s success shouldn’t come as a surprise. There is enough of a track record to show that the Vikings do a remarkable job when it comes mining WR talent in the draft and UDFA.
Now, we shouldn’t take away from the individual effort and work that goes into success. Jefferson is incredible largely because he puts in the time. Osborn and Thielen ought to receive similar recognition. Nevertheless, it’s fair to also conclude that the franchise has figured something out.
Unless something dramatic happens, the Vikings’ top 3 at WR is set: Jefferson, Thielen, and Osborn. The WR4-6 spots are wide open, and there are a lot of players shooting for those openings.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Bisi Johnson, Dan Chisena, and whoever else gets brought in will have to earn their spot. Johnson is coming off a season-ending injury. Chisena is in town primarily because of his potential on special teams, and Smith-Marsette will be a sophomore. He was chosen 157th overall in last season’s draft. One wonders if someone like Dede Westbrook or Chad Beebe will be brought back.
The current favorite for the WR4 spot is Smith-Marsette. He ran a 4.4 forty leading up to the draft, and he showed off his speed in the season’s final game. The meaningless final week involved him turning his three targets into three catches for 103 yards and a TD.
After him, it’s anyone’s guess. Johnson and Chisena aren’t guaranteed anything. Both were added to the WR room by the former Vikings leadership group. As such, they’ll begin the offseason competition behind the sticks. Adding a WR anywhere in the middle rounds likely means one or both will be cut. The Vikings, in all likelihood, will be looking to retain five or six receivers.
Regardless of who else gets added, we can be reasonably certain that the top trio is in place. From there, Smith-Marsette looks like a WR4 who could complement the rest of the group by being a deep threat. Putting another talented receiver beside those four would give the Vikings a shot at the most complete receiver group in the NFL.
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