Then And Now

Receiver was a concern for the Minnesota Vikings even before they traded Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks at the start of the NFL offseason. After that trade, the Vikings receiver position was in crisis. Well, it wasn't that bad. But, it was pretty bad. Here's what we had after the Vikings shipped Harvin off to VikingsWest:

Jerome Simpson
Jarius Wright
Stephen Burton
Chris Summers

That's pretty bleak. The Vikings also have 2012 fourth round pick Greg Childs but he's trying to come back from a torn patellar tendon in EACH knee. He's actually a wild card in this receiver rebuild process. Many consider his comeback impossible. Just because a return from this kind of injury has never been done doesn't mean that it can't be done. It's certainly a unique situation but surgery and rehab has improved so much in recent years that I don't consider a Childs return out of the question. He's certainly putting the work into making it happen. Anyway, what was known of the Vikings receivers when the NFL offseason opened wasn't pretty. Simpson was brought in to provide a deep threat last year. He didn't. He started the 2012 season with a suspension. When he returned, his season was thrashed by nagging injuries. He could never get on the field and stay on the field. Simpson has some serious athletic skills. He's fast. He can jump over people. He's got to stay healthy. The Vikings brought him back on a one-year contract hoping that he could provide the deep threat that his skills indicate. Wright is small and quick. He stepped in nicely when Harvin was injured in the middle of the season. Wright has a real nice future in Minnesota. Burton brings an intriguing size/speed combination. He was a seventh round pick out West Texas A&M in 2011. He's a bit of project due to his small school background. This is a big year for him. If he is to live up to his potential, now is the time. Summers has great size at 6'5". Like Burton, he's also a project. Out of the above four receivers, Simpson and Wright are the only ones that are pretty much certain to be on the 2013 roster. That's pretty bleak.

Fast forward to today, a few days after the draft. Here's what we have now for the Minnesota Vikings receivers:

Greg Jennings
Jerome Simpson
Jarius Wright
Cordarrelle Patterson
Stephen Burton
Chris Summers
Rodney Smith
Erik Highsmith
Nicolas Edwards

This group may not challenge the receiver stables of the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos but the talent level has defeinitely increased. The numbers have as well. Some of those pass catchers might even give a defense some concerns. The most significant additions since the Harvin trade are Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson. The Vikings added Jennings in their in big free agent splash. Approaching 30, he's still one of the top receivers in the game. His leadership and mentoring skills may be as important as his football skills. He'll be especially important in the development of first round selection Patterson. This guy has a chance to be something special. In one year of SEC play at Tennessee, Patterson excelled. He has speed and movement skills that you just don't see in a player his size, 6'2" 215-220 lbs. In addition to his receiving potential he's also an electric kick returner. He'll make an impact as a rookie. Smith, Highsmith, and Edwards were signed as undrafted free agents. Smith, in particular, could be interesting. He has nice size and speed. He also played with Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder at Florida St.

So much can change between now and the start of the 2013 season. It's no real stretch to call Jennings, Simpson, Wright, and Patterson as locks to make the team. The Vikings will likely go with at least five receivers. Burton can sew up the fifth spot if he can take that next step in his development. He has Anquan Boldin-like skills. He's got to start playing up to those skills. If Childs can make a miraculous return, the Vikings might have the makings of a real nice receiver group. That's a big change from what they had when they entered the month of March.