Minnesota Vikings 2017 positional needs evaluation: Wide receiver
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings have a talented group of young wide receivers, but should they be looking to free agency or the NFL Draft for more help?
Finding quality pass catchers is something that the Minnesota Vikings have struggled with in recent history. Despite using some high picks on wide receivers, their best options have come from the mid-rounds of the draft and even undrafted free agents.
Minnesota has moved on from wide receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson as well as Charles Johnson, opening up at least one spot on the roster for a young player to step up and earn the role with the team.
Here are the wide receivers who are currently under contract by the Minnesota Vikings according to the team’s official website:
- Stefon Diggs – signed through 2018
- Adam Thielen – signed through 2020
- Laquon Treadwell – signed through 2019
- Jarius Wright – signed through 2019
- Isaac Fruechte – signed through 2017
- Moritz Bohringer – signed through 2018
- Mitch Mathews – signed through 2017
- Cayleb Jones – signed through 2018
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From looking at this list, it can be assumed that Diggs and Thielen will the starting wide receivers for the Vikings. The team will likely hope for a bigger contribution from Laquon Treadwell and Jarius Wright will able to take the field more often.
Those 4 players should be considered locks for the 53-man roster, but Minnesota will likely want to take 5. Last year, Fruechte ended the season on the main roster, so there are hopes he could be a special teams contributor and WR5 like Thielen used to be before he exploded on the scene.
Bohringer, Mathews, and Jones should all be considered camp bodies with hopes of staying on the practice squad. There is always a chance that one of these guys could impress enough to get a bigger look.
Next: Positional evaluation - Tight end
Overall, fans should expect the Minnesota Vikings to be looking at one more wide receiver. While this will likely be done in the draft, there is a chance it could be a free agent acquisition. Either way, there is a WR5 spot up for grabs, but Fruechte is penciled in there for now.