Did the Vikings’ third receiver for 2019 just become available?

Pierre Garçon is expected to become a free-agent this offseason and the Minnesota Vikings going after him seems like something for them to consider.

Everyone is fully aware that the Minnesota Vikings currently have two of the NFL’s best wide receivers on their roster in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. But below this dynamic duo on the Vikings’ depth chart is a whole bunch of question marks.

Figuring out who their third receiver will be in 2019 is going to be a top priority for Minnesota this offseason and they might have to look outside of their current roster to fill this need.

One possible candidate to takeover this role for the Vikings next season is now expected to be available in free agency this year according to a recent report.

On Thursday, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported that veteran receiver Pierre Garçon is not expected to have his 2019 contract option picked up by the San Francisco 49ers, which will make him a free-agent when the new league year begins in March.

Garçon has been in the NFL since 2008 and he spent five seasons as a teammate of current Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins when the two were both members of the Washington Redskins from 2012 to 2016.

When Cousins became the Redskins full-time starter in 2015, no receiver on the team’s roster hauled in more passes from the quarterback over the next two seasons than Garçon.

The 32-year-old receiver has been a big supporter of the Vikings’ current signal-caller over the years. Garçon was actually confused in 2017 why Washington hadn’t made a bigger effort to sign Cousins to a long-term deal.

Given his experience and his respect for Cousins, Garçon could be a potential option for the Vikings to bring in this offseason and become the team’s new third receiver.

Injuries have hampered the pass catcher’s production over the last two years with the 49ers as he’s only appeared in 16 games. Since signing with San Francisco in 2017, Garçon has managed a total of 64 catches for 786 yards and one touchdown.

Given his age and his recent production, it probably wouldn’t cost much for Minnesota to sign the receiver this offseason. Based on their current salary cap situation, looking at affordable free-agents like Garçon is basically all the Vikings can do this year anyways.

With the uncertainty surrounding who Minnesota’s third receiver will be in 2019, taking a chance on a guy who has proven in the past that he can get the job done with Cousins under center may be something the team should strongly consider.