Vikings draft Laquon Treadwell, address biggest need

The Vikings addressed their single biggest need in the first round of the draft, taking wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.

There was no question about what the Vikings’ biggest need was going into the 2016 NFL Draft. The only question was what player they would select to address that need.

Wide receiver had to be the target for Minnesota. Anyone who took even a cursory gander at their roster must have realized this.

Sure, Vikings GM Rick Spielman played the game of acting like he might go away from the receiver position, but come on. Did anyone believe it for a second?

For months observers debated about which receiver would be the best fit for the Vikings. Josh Doctson seemed to be the favorite among mock drafters, but Laquon Treadwell got plenty of run too.

Those who like their receivers fast also talked about Will Fuller and Corey Coleman.

The only thing anyone could agree on was that there was no single obvious elite receiver in this year’s draft. Which wide-out would be first off the board? It came down to a matter of opinion.

When all was said and done, Baylor speedster Coleman was the first receiver taken, going to the Browns at #15. Speedy Will Fuller of Notre Dame was the second receiver taken when Houston traded up to #21 to get him.

At that point, the Vikings knew they would get either TCU’s Josh Doctson or Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell with the #23 pick. Doctson came off the board to the Redskins at #22, leaving Minnesota to select Treadwell.

Between Doctson and Treadwell, there doesn’t seem to be much difference. Neither player possesses elite speed. Doctson may have greater athleticism, but he also is a bit less polished than Treadwell. Both have good hands and good ball skills.

Treadwell may be the tougher player and may be the better fit in the Vikings’ system. But even if Treadwell is marginally the more ideal player for the Vikings’ scheme, the separation isn’t enough that it would have mattered. Had the Vikes not gotten Treadwell, they would have taken Doctson.

Next: Treadwell gives Bridgewater big target

The important thing was for the Vikings to get a wide receiver. Fast. Slow. Big. Small. Such distinctions were irrelevant. Anyone who could run a route and catch a pass, and had legitimate first-round value, had to be on the Vikings’ board.

With Treadwell now on the roster, the Vikes have a chance to put together a legitimate offense. And there is a lot more drafting yet to be done.