History says Vikings should draft a receiver after the first round in 2020

With two first-round picks in their possession for the 2020 NFL Draft, recent history seems to indicate the Minnesota Vikings shouldn’t be using either selection on a receiver.

Following the recent trade of Stefon Diggs that resulted in the Minnesota Vikings acquiring an additional first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft, many are assuming the team should just be using one of these selections to add a new receiver to their roster.

While the first round of the draft is typically the area to land the prospects with the highest potential, this hasn’t really been the case for the receivers during the recent past. Especially at the slots where the Vikings are currently set to make their selections (picks No. 22 and No. 25).

Of the 12 receivers who were selected between the 22nd and 32nd draft picks since 2012, only two have earned at least one Pro Bowl invite (DeAndre Hopkins and Cordarrelle Patterson). One of these two players (Patterson) was also only voted to the Pro Bowl due to their production on special teams and not because of their receiving abilities.

As for the receivers drafted in the second and third round since 2012, it has been a much different story. During the last eight years, the second and third round has been where guys like Michael Thomas, Davonte Adams, Keenan Allen, T.Y. Hilton, and Kenny Golladay have been selected.

But what about some of the receivers who have been selected around where Minnesota is slotted at in the second and third round this year (picks No. 58, 89, and 105)? In recent years, guys like D.K. Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, DJ Chark, Cooper Kupp, Chris Godwin, Jarvis Landry, and Tyler Lockett have all been selected with the 58th pick or later.

Even Diggs, himself, was drafted in the fifth round back in 2015. His partner in crime for the past five seasons, Adam Thielen, wasn’t even selected in any round of the draft.

Before Minnesota even traded Diggs last week, they already had a number of needs they were going to try and fill during this year’s draft. While finding another receiver is likely going to be added to their list, the Vikings shouldn’t feel obligated to use one of their two first-round picks on a new pass-catcher.

Since both of Minnesota’s selections are in the last third of the first round, they’re better off using these picks on some of their other needs like interior offensive line, corner, defensive tackle, or defensive end.

Whatever the Vikings decide to do with their two first-round selections, it wouldn’t be wise to use either of them on a receiver. At least this is what the recent past indicates.