Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is following in the path of former first round picks and is just waiting for the time that his number is called.
How hard must it be to be a highly touted first round draft pick? The pressure to live up to being chosen at the podium the first night of the draft, mixed with the emotion of being picked by an NFL team straight out of college must be overwhelming for a player of any team, not just the Minnesota Vikings.
The status of a first round draft pick, to the fans at least, generally implies an immediate impact on the team. For the Vikings, a couple of high-profile first round picks have had to wait for their time to shine. The Minnesota Vikings 2016 first round draft choice, Laquon Treadwell, is just waiting for his chance to burst on to the scene.
Last year CB Trae Waynes found himself sitting on the bench watching for most of the season, until his number was called to get his first extensive action in a great playoff showing against the Seahawks, and was called in to action early this young season in place of the injured Xavier Rhodes. Besides a few penalties in the game against the Packers the young CB has shown his time watching and learning has paid off with 2 interceptions in the last 2 games.
The Minnesota Vikings 2016 first round draft pick is following a similar path to NFL playing time. It might be disappointing to fans to know that he only runs with the 2nd team offense in practice. Looking at it from a logic standpoint it makes sense. He is still getting reps from Sam Bradford, but isn’t taking first team reps from the likes of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Charles Johnson, and, Jarius Wright.
In an interview on Vikings.com, the young receiver is saying all the right things coaches want a player to say, but you can see the look of disappointment on his face, hear it in his voice and see in his mannerisms.
When asked if he has paid attention to fellow rookies Sterling Sheppard, Corey Coleman, and Will Fuller and what they are doing, he politely replies that “You can’t, everyone has their own journey and their own process.” He adds that “I wishing the best for ’em. They are playing at a high level and I been seeing Will Fuller name a lot, and Cory Coleman and that’s the best thing for me, seeing those guys excel. We all rookies and we all trying to make a name for ourselves in this league.”
Those words right now just seem like salt in a wound for Treadwell, it is inevitable that his playing time will come eventually. This season has proven that the next players in line need to be ready at a moments notice as Shaun Hill, Sam Bradford, Matt Asiata, Jerick McKinnon, T.J. Clemmings, Jeremiah Sirles, and the recently signed from practice squad Willie Beavers have all seen their expected jobs change rapidly through 3 games this season.
Laquon Treadwell has claimed family, getting better everyday, preparing and working hard are helping him to avoid frustration. Instead of on the field game day work, his off the field work, practice, learning game plans, and watching film, will pay dividends in the end. It’s not the blazing path to glory, it took future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Randy Moss until a week 5 Monday Night Football game to have his outburst of a coming out party.
Next: Full game-by-game 2016 Vikings season preview
It may not be this week or next week but Laquon Treadwell will get his day. All the hours of preparation and hard work culminating in what will be his first NFL reception and eventually his first NFL touchdown, will give the young man his first shot at celebrating. It will no doubt be later than he wanted it to come, but when it comes, it wont just be sweet for him, but for his family and friends, and legions of Vikings fans across Minnesota.