Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said, “It’s going to be a very competitive camp at multiple positions.” We’re taking a look at each of those competitions as training camp gets underway. Today: wide receiver.
The receiver room at TCO Performance Center has one bona fide NFL superstar (Justin Jefferson), one second-year phenom whose only career impediments are his decisions behind the wheel of a car (Jordan Addison) and …
Nine guys who make you go meh while eyeballing the WR3 battle in training camp.
Whether the Vikings actually have a legitimate third receiver on the roster or will need to scrounge one up from somewhere else after final cuts remains to be seen. Either way, the need to identify the WR3 is urgent because of the formations coach Kevin O’Connell likes to use and the fact Addison is staring at the probability of a league suspension after two driving arrests in the past year, including one for DWI earlier this month.
Last season
Jefferson played only 10 games because of a hamstring injury but still had a fourth straight 1,000-yard season (1,074) and five touchdowns on 68 catches — all career lows for a guy who had never missed a game before. He’s one of the best in the league and the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. And, oh yeah, he’s only 25.
Addison lived up to his rookie first-round billing in Year 1 without Adam Thielen, who signed with Carolina. Addison caught 10 touchdown passes, including six with Jefferson on the field. Addison also had 911 yards on 70 catches.
High expectations for K.J. Osborn’s contract year fizzled quickly. He posted career lows for catches (48), yards (540) and touchdowns (three) before the Vikings let him leave for New England and a one-year, $4 million deal.
The only other receivers to catch a ball last year were journeyman punt returner Brandon Powell (29), Jalen Nailor (three) and Trishton Jackson (one).