Mike Zimmer would like to see the Vikings add receivers that can ‘stretch the field’
By Adam Patrick
The Minnesota Vikings’ head coach talked on Tuesday about improving the team’s wide receiver depth before the 2017 season.
As the Minnesota Vikings and head coach Mike Zimmer prepare for the 2017 NFL season, they are doing their best to assemble a group of players that can hopefully improve upon their disappointing 8-8 record from a year ago.
One area of the roster that the team may still be looking into improving this offseason is their group of wide receivers. Minnesota’s top returning pass catchers for 2017 currently consist of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, and Jarius Wright.
On Tuesday, Zimmer took some time to speak with Vikings play-by-play man Paul Allen on KFAN Radio. Allen asked the head coach a bevy of questions including one that related to the current state of Minnesota’s wide receivers.
"“I do think we need some more receivers, yes. I think it would be important for us to get some guys who can stretch the field a little bit. It’s not saying I don’t feel good about the guys we have, but we lost a couple in free agency and we’re going to have to add one or two maybe.”– Mike Zimmer, Vikings head coach"
Zimmer’s comments are quite interesting, especially since Minnesota just used a first-round pick on wide receiver Laquon Treadwell during last year’s draft. Perhaps the head coach does not think Treadwell is ready enough just yet to deliver the Vikings the kind of receiving help they need next season?
In Cordarrelle Patterson and Charles Johnson, Minnesota did lose two deep-ball threats to free agency this offseason (despite Patterson never running deep and Johnson never seeing the ball thrown his way) and will likely need to add someone new to the mix who can run really fast in a straight line.
Next: WATCH: Stefon Diggs' high school highlights
Since there are not really any good deep-threat receiving options left in free agency this offseason, expect the Vikings to look to the draft for a new pass catcher if they end up deciding to add one.