Which Vikings players on future contracts could make the 2020 roster?

Dillon Mitchell – WR

Bralon Addison was just signed, but Dillon Mitchell is the other Oregon wide receiver who caught my eye last preseason.

After being drafted in the seventh round, Dillon Mitchell spent the 2019 season on Minnesota’s practice squad. He caught just one pass in the preseason and he was assigned to the practice squad during the final roster moves.

The Vikings need a deep wide receiver group in 2020 to help take the load off of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Mitchell would bring speed and creativity to the offense.

Mitchell ran an unofficial 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine. He offers an element of speed that could give Minnesota a spark on offense. The San Francisco 49ers have found success with pre-snap motion and gimmicky plays on offense. With Gary Kubiak taking over as offensive coordinator, could the Vikings follow suit?

At Oregon, Mitchell found plenty of success. As a junior in 2018, he led the Pac-12 with 1,184 yards on 75 catches. The 1,184 yards was also a school single-season record. Despite playing sparingly as a freshman, Mitchell still finished with the third-most receptions in school history with 119.

He brings a lot to the table for Minnesota’s offense thanks to his ability to create after the catch as well. He is a shifty runner who can make defenders miss in space. You just have to get him the ball underneath and let him work. All of that sets him up for the deep ball. Mitchell consistently showed fantastic tracking ability after burning the defender with speed, as you can see below.

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/1061402037827465216?s=20

The big concern for Mitchell is his small frame and his inability to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage. He does not offer much in run blocking or in contested areas, so his role may be limited. Mitchell also had his struggles with drops in college. So if he cleans up his hands a bit, he can earn a roster spot with the Vikings in 2020.