Vikings Receivers

The Minnesota Vikings currently have seven receivers on the roster.

Stefon Diggs
Adam Thielen
Kendall Wright
Laquon Treadwell
Stacy Coley
Cayleb Jones
Brandon Zylstra

The most significant change this offseason (so far) was a changing of Wrights. Long-time first down-maker Jarius Wright was released as a salary cap savings. The Vikings used some of that cap savings to sign Kendall Wright. Both Wrights are similar slot receivers. They work well in space and are very reliable in moving the chains. The current Wright has put up bigger numbers in his career (with the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears) than the former Wright but the talent exchange is essentially a push. Kendall Wright will also wear Jarius Wright's #17. Convenient for those with a Wright jersey.

Brandon Zylstra is the other new addition. He's a Minnesota native, Concordia-Moorhead College and New London-Spicer High School, and a Canadian Football League import. He led the CFL with 1,687 receiving yards on 100 catches with five touchdowns. It was a performance that earned him CFL All-Star honors. His path to the NFL will be challenging but he has intriguing size (6'2" 215 lbs) and skills.

The Vikings receivers group starts with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. The pair emerged last season as one of the best receiving duos in the league. Both are excellent route-runners with tremendous hands. As well as they played last season it just feels like each is only scratching the surface of their potential, especially Diggs. New quarterback Kirk Cousins has to be smiling knowing that the reliable hands of Diggs and Thielen will be at the other end of many of his passes.

Laquon Treadwell is the question mark of the group. The Vikings selected Treadwell in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. His 20 catches last year and 21 career catches have been a disappointment. Most of that disappointment has come from the media and fans. His seven starts and snap numbers last season should be an indication that the team doesn't share that disappointment. Even if they are disappointed with his development they can't be thrilled with the production. The lack of production isn't due to lack of effort. Head coach Mike Zimmer hinted that some of Treadwell's issues could be due too much extra work. Imagine that. Treadwell was wearing himself out in an effort to make the leap on the field. Treadwell has the size and talent to succeed. He just needs to bring it all together. NFL Network's Mike Garofolo hinted that the signing of Kendall Wright was a threat to Treadwell's team standing. I don't see it that way. The Vikings pursuit of Alshon Jeffery and addition of Michael Floyd last offseason were more of a threat to Treadwell than the signing of Wright. Treadwell was drafted to be the big, possession-type receiver. The so-called #1 receiver. A receiver much like Jeffery and Floyd. The signing of Wright was a move to replace the Wright that left. A Wright for a Wright. A slot receiver for a slot receiver.

The top three receivers are set with Diggs, Thielen, and Wright. If Treadwell emerges as the receiver he has drafted to be this is a position of strength with two elite and two solid receivers. Treadwell has the size and talent to develop into a receiver much more than solid. Stacy Coley, Cayleb Jones, and Brandon Zylstra are developmental receivers. Coley was a late-round pick last season. He saw some time in multiple receiver sets and as a returner. Jones has been on the Vikings practice squad since the end of the 2016 season. He had some nice moments during the 2017 preseason. Any one of the three developmental receivers could emerge as a contributor. They can look to Thielen as the model for that career path.

The Vikings receiver group is a top-heavy one right now. They could go into training camp with the group they have now but it wouldn't be a surprise if one is added early in the draft, especially one with excellent return skills.