Vikings offensive players who could see more playing time
The Minnesota Vikings found a diamond in the rough with Stefon Diggs, a 5thround pick in last year’s draft. Needing to find a reliable starter opposite Diggs, the Vikings spent their first round pick in this year’s draft on Laquon Treadwell. Both of these players have immense potential, yet the receiver with perhaps the most potential on the roster (if not the whole league) is currently buried on the depth chart.
Cordarrelle Patterson’s career has been very similar to Matt Kalil’s. Both were first round picks, both have shown glimpses of great talent, and both were elected to the Pro Bowl after their rookie seasons. Unfortunately, just like Kalil, Patterson has been severely underwhelming every year since. Unlike Kalil however, the Vikings elected not to pick up Patterson’s fifth year of his rookie deal, so this could be his last year in purple and gold.
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If you listened to reports coming from training camp, Cordarrelle has been showing lots of improvement this offseason. While it may be possible the Vikings are simply trying to boost up his stock in an effort to facilitate a trade (as one local writer predicts), it may also be possible the light has suddenly gone on for Patterson. The receiver position is one that generally takes a few years to master, so it’s entirely possible this year is when he finally puts it all together.
If Patterson is truly taking a step forward this year, there are still plenty of hurdles he would need to overcome to see the field. Perhaps the biggest hurdle of them all is the depth chart, since sitting above him is Diggs, Treadwell, Jarius Wright and Charles Johnson.
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Head Coach Mike Zimmer is not one who will give a lot of playing time to a player just because he was a high draft pick (case in point, Trae Waynes), so there is a chance Treadwell may not see the field much his rookie season. If that were to happen, Cordarrelle will be battling with Charles Johnson to see who gets the start. While Johnson is a fine receiver when healthy, he does not have the significant amount of upside that Patterson does.