I can't stop pondering the potential of the Minnesota Vikings receiver group. Perhaps that's because the team hasn't had any sustained quality at the position since they regrettably shipped Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. The Vikings have a strong receiving tradition. Paul Flatley, John Gilliam, Sammy White, Ahmad Rashad, Anthony Carter, Cris Carter, Jake Reed, Randy Moss. Cris Carter is the only one of the bunch in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Moss will join him soon. Rashad and Anthony Carter might have found their way to Canton if they had found their way to Minnesota a little earlier in their respective careers. The Vikings have had some talented receivers since they traded away Moss. Nate Burleson, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin. The funny thing about those three is that each went to and floundered with the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings receiving situation has been so bad since they traded away Moss that the likes of Travis Taylor, Robert Ferguson, Bobby Wade, and Marcus Robinson started games. Very sad. They started games because they were at the top of the depth chart at the time. Not because injuries kept more skilled receivers out of those games. The Vikings receiving situation was so bad that they were forced to select Troy Williamson with the seventh pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. A fast receiver that couldn't catch. The Vikings receiving situation was so bad that they overpaid Bernard Berrian to be their #1 receiver. He had a nice first season with the Vikings but he was hardly the difference-making receiver that he was paid to be. Basically, the talent at receiver has been lacking in Minnesota for about a decade. That might be changing.
The Vikings currently have 11 receivers on the roster.
Stefon Diggs
Charles Johnson
Jarius Wright
Laquon Treadwell
Cordarrelle Patterson
Adam Thielen
Isaac Fruechte
Moritz Boehringer
Terrell Sinkfield
Marken Michel
Troy Soudermire
Barring injuries and/or stunning surprises, the top six will probably be the receivers on the final roster. It's a young, talented, versatile, and very under-the-radar group. Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson took most of the first string reps in the offseason workouts and likely enter training camp at the top of the depth chart. The Vikings drafted Laquon Treadwell in the first round of the recent draft to be a top target for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Treadwell has the size, physicality, and hands to make an early impact. It's expected that he'll join Diggs in the starting lineup soon. Jarius Wright is the top slot receiver. He's effective outside the numbers as well. At 26, Wright is the veteran leader of the group. An indication of the youth of this group. Cordarrelle Patterson is the wildcard of the bunch. He's an unbelievable natural athlete that has pretty much skated by on his physical gifts. He's the best kick returner in the league but the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft to be much more than that. He's never really worked at the nuances of the receiver position possibly because the game has always come so easy for him. The NFL is a different beast. Every player in it is an athletic marvel. Patterson has finally worked at those receiving nuances this offseason. Route running, timing, coverages. Being where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there. His work of the past few months showed in the recent OTAs and mini-camp. Maybe he's finally going to become the receiver that he was drafted to be. If he is, the Vikings receiver group could be dynamite. Adam Thielen might be at the bottom of the depth chart but he's a very valuable member of the receiver group and the team as a whole. Every week, he seems to make a game-altering play on special teams. Thielen isn't just a special teams standout. He's also a dependable, productive receiver. He probably would have been a starter a decade ago.
Diggs, Treadwell, and Wright are the Vikings future at receiver as they are each signed through at least 2018. Johnson, Patterson, and Thielen are in contract years. It's no real stretch to think of Diggs and Treadwell as the long-term faces of the franchise at receiver. Both are very young. Both are very talented. And both appear to have the work ethic and commitment to end the Vikings long, sad drought at receiver.
No comments:
Post a Comment