Is Laquon Treadwell the biggest draft bust in Vikings history?
By Dean Jones
Treadwell’s career in Minnesota
The Vikings made a huge leap of faith by using their first-round selection on Laquon Treadwell in 2016. It’s safe to say the player did not live up to his end of the bargain.
Treadwell was hardly used during his rookie campaign to allow the receiver to adjust to the strains of the NFL. He was targeted just three times, catching one ball for nine yards.
Bigger things were expected in 2017 for Treadwell after a year to further develop and hone his route running ability. He was on the field for 45 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and secured 20 of 35 targets for 200 yards.
What was also evident during this period was Treadwell’s problems holding onto the football. He displayed a real tentativeness when catching under pressure and it is a problem that continues to haunt his production to this day.
If the Vikings were hoping for more from him in 2018, they were sadly disappointed. Treadwell was used slightly more prominently, playing in 52 percent of the offense’s snaps, but he was found wanting when it mattered most once again.
He eventually secured 35 of 53 targets for 325 yards and the first touchdown of his NFL career. That told only half the story, with frustrations regarding Treadwell’s lack of playmaking ability on a consistent basis clearly indicating that patience was wearing thin.
This eventually saw Treadwell released due to his poor performance. His stay away from the franchise was short-lived and he still managed to play 13 regular-season games for the Vikings in 2019.
With a total of nine catches for 184 yards and a touchdown last season, this was the final nail in the coffin of the receiver’s career with Minnesota.