Vikings Roster Concern

The Athletic posted an article with a roster concern for each of the league’s 32 teams. For the Minnesota Vikings, Alec Lewis went with #3 receiver. I get it. K.J. Osborn has been reliable in that role for the past three seasons. He signed with the New England Patriots this offseason. With all-everything Justin Jefferson and emerging Jordan Addison, the Vikings have a top-heavy receiver group. The competition for #3 on the depth chart is an open competition. The contenders:

Brandon Powell

Trent Sherfield

Jalen Nailor

Trishton Jackson

Lucky Jackson

Thayer Thomas

Malik Knowles

Jeshaun Jones

Ty James

The competition for #3 really comes down to Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Nailor, and perhaps the Jacksons. Heading into training camp, Powell is possibly penciled into the role. I liked the offseason addition of Trent Sherfield. He’s had some nice moments in his six years in the league. I’ve always felt that he just needed a team to believe in him and give him a consistent opportunity. However, I really think that Jalen Nailor is the receiver that’s going to step up and grab the role. I believe that he’d already have it locked up if injuries hadn’t kept taking him off the field. If he can avoid the injuries that stalled and then ended his season last year, I believe that he’ll emerge as a complimentary playmaker in his third season. 

My biggest roster concern for the Vikings isn’t the #3 receiver. It has been and continues to be the defensive line. Here’s the group. 

Harrison Phillips

Jonathan Bullard

Jaquelin Roy

Jerry Tillery

Jonah Williams

James Lynch

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Taki Taimani

Tyler Manoa

Harrison Phillips is really the only established starter. He’s solid but the rest of the position group is mostly unknown. Jonathan Bullard emerged last season as a reliable run-stuffer but his NFL career has really been that of a journeyman. My hope for the group mostly rests on a wildcard and a couple of youngsters. The wildcard is Jerry Tillery. The one-time first round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers has never played to that level in his five years. At 6’6” and about 300 lbs, he certainly looks the part. A good thing is that his best years are his most recent years with the Las Vegas Raiders. Hopefully, his play is on an upswing. Coming out of Notre Dame, he showed first-round talent in a loaded defensive tackle draft. If he can play to the potential he clearly has, the Vikings got a steal in free agency. The two youngsters are second-year Jaquelin Roy and seventh-round rookie Levi Drake Rodriguez. I believe that Roy is ready for the next step and will become a reliable and consistent starter. One thing that can be said about Drake Rodriguez is that the effort will always be there. He’s non-stop. I might be getting overly hopeful but there’s a John Randle-feel surrounding Drake Rodriguez. Perhaps it’s just his small Texas college origins. Throw in modestly productive veterans James Lynch and Jonah Williams and there’s some sneaky potential in the Vikings underwhelming defensive line group. As an eternal optimist, I have reasonably high hopes for the group but defensive line is my biggest concern on the Vikings roster.