Vikings Receivers

Here's another look at a Minnesota Vikings position group. The receivers. This is a very unique group. Compared to some receiver groups around the league the Vikings group might be described as fairly pedestrian. It's topped by a player that has somewhat fallen from grace in recent years, another player that has spent more time on practice squads and injured lists than an active roster, and another player that was hot-white as a rookie but failed in his second year. It's a group that currently looks like this:

Mike Wallace
Charles Johnson
Cordarrelle Patterson
Jarius Wright
Stefon Diggs
Adam Thielen
Donte Foster
DaVaris Daniels
Jordan Leslie
Gavin Lutman
Isaac Fruechte

Despite the lack of respect or attention I really like this group. Wallace has been one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league since he entered it. More so during his first four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers than his last two with the Miami Dolphins. He was a dynamic, big-play receiver with the Steelers. He could take the top off of any defense. He didn't quite fit the less explosive Dolphins offense that he joined as a high-priced free agent two years ago. Some say that Wallace is a one-trick pony, a deep threat only. 9 of his 10 touchdowns last season were on plays that were run in the red zone. He can get open, make plays, and be effective without depending solely on his deep speed. Still, it's that deep speed that gives offensive coordinator Norv Turner a more complete playbook. He now has receivers that can make plays all over the field. The Vikings under-the-radar group of receivers might be best summed up with the talent, potential and career to date of Johnson. He wasn't even on the Vikings roster at the start of the 2014 season. He was on the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings snagged him in September. By the end of the season he was the best receiver on the team. He has the speed, size, and work ethic to excel. He's also finally fully recovered from a 2013 torn ACL. His route running is special. It gets him open. He was routinely open last season. Wide open. Wide open a lot. Despite a slow start to his NFL career his future is bright. The Vikings are very lucky to have him. Then we have Patterson. Few rookie receivers have been more explosive than Patterson was in the final weeks of the 2013 NFL season. He was supposed to be a break-out star last season. He wasn't. Not even close. Patterson has the natural talent to be a superstar but he's so raw, so undisciplined in his play. All indications are that he has worked extremely hard this offseason to become a better player, a more disciplined player. If his play ever matches his natural talent, he will take the league apart. Wright is one of the most interesting players of the group. He's the only receiver under 6-foot on the roster. He's a little guy that plays big. He hasn't caught a lot of passes in his three seasons in the league but he's made a lot of big plays. He completely abused all-everything Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman a couple of years ago on a 40-yard touchdown. The play wasn't an outlier. He's done that sort of thing to a lot of corners. His highlight reel views like a player that is more acclaimed. This is a contract year for Wright and the hope here is that he'll be in Minnesota for a long time. He's a valuable player in this group. Versatile and effective. He's probably the player that benefits most from the departure of Greg Jennings. Wright can play outside the numbers but he might be used mostly out of the slot moving forward. He has the suddenness in space to excel there. Diggs dropped to the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and the Vikings benefited. He may play like a quick, elusive little guy but he's a 6-footer. He's a dynamic play-maker and may find an immediate role as the punt returner. The Vikings kept five receivers last year in Turner's first year as offensive coordinator. If they keep five again, the guess here is that the five will be:

Mike Wallace
Charles Johnson
Cordarrelle Patterson
Jarius Wright
Stefon Diggs

But, that's a tough call. Thielen makes it a tough call. If the Vikings do keep five, the battle between Diggs and Thielen for that final spot will be one of the most interesting in training camp. Thielen became a vital part of nearly every special teams unit. He also started making more plays in the passing game at the end of of last season. His role on the team has increased to the point that I think it forces the Vikings to keep six receivers. Unless Diggs is horrible this summer he's on the roster. He's been a standout in offseason workouts so far.

The rest of the group will probably be fighting for practice squad spots. Foster made it there last year. He has some competition this year. Daniels and Leslie are the most prominent of of the college free agents. Daniels might have been drafted if he hadn't been booted from the Notre Dame team for some academic improprieties. The Vikings are definitely looking at receivers with size. Daniels is the smallest among the aspiring youngsters at 6'1". Foster is also 6'1". Leslie, Lutman, and Fruechte are all at least 6'3". Good thing as the task ahead of them is a tall one.

I really like this group of receivers. I like it partly because they are going about their business with confidence but mostly because of the versatility. Wallace has the speed. That speed will get a lot of attention from defenses. The sort of attention that will open up the rest of the offense. Johnson has the size and speed to be effective all over the field. His route running is excellent. An example to the young players on the team. Patterson is the wildcard as his potential is so great. He has the size and speed to dominate. He has the elusiveness of a little guy. I've never seen a player his size change direction like he can. He has to live up to that potential. Fortunately for him and the Vikings it appears that he's finally doing the work to live up to that potential. We'll see. Wright is the guy that just makes plays. It feels like he'll always be second- or third-fiddle to others but defenses will pay if they treat him as such. Diggs could be a special talent. Quick and elusive. Maybe a Patterson in a smaller package. I'd sure like to see Thielen as a part of this group. He's one those high-effort, do-everything football players that every good team seems to need. This is nice group. Maybe they'll finally get some attention this year with second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater throwing passes to them.