Vikings have reportedly shown interest in a former receiver

With there now a need for better wide receiver depth this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have reportedly expressed interest in bringing back Jarius Wright.

Outside of Adam Thielen, there are zero wide receivers on the current roster of the Minnesota Vikings who have finished a season with more than 45 catches.

Even before they decided to trade Stefon Diggs this year, the Vikings were already lacking receiver depth heading into next season. But with Diggs now gone, Minnesota’s need for experienced pass-catchers has grown even larger.

The Vikings did recently sign Tajae Sharpe, but he’s not expected to make that much of a difference in 2020. Aside from Sharpe, the rest of Minnesota’s receiver depth chart includes guys like Olabisi Johnson, Chad Beebe, Alexander Hollins, Davion Davis, and Dillon Mitchell.

A toilet paper shortage at Target is more frightening than the Vikings’ current group of receivers. So it’s expected Minnesota will be looking early and often for a new pass-catcher during this year’s NFL Draft, but they could also still turn to free agency to add some much-needed experience.

The Vikings could even add someone who has already suited up for them once before. Apparently, Minnesota has kept in contact with Jarius Wright’s representation since the receiver became a free agent a few weeks ago according to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson.

Tomasson also added that the chances of the Vikings actually signing Wright this offseason are still low according to his source.

After Minnesota selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Wright went on to spend his first six seasons in the league in purple. After parting ways with the Vikings in 2018, he spent the last two seasons as a member of the Carolina Panthers.

Wright appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers last year, but he only ended up catching a total of 28 passes for 296 yards.

Currently 30-years-old, Minnesota is likely only considering him as an option due to his experience and the fact that he likely won’t cost much to add to their roster. If the Vikings actually ended up signing Wright before the start of next season, it would likely only be as a camp body and he would not have any sort of guarantee to make the team’s roster.

Nothing against Wright, but there are a number of better options Minnesota can turn to in order to try and improve the talent level of their current group of receivers.

This year’s group of receiving prospects is supposedly one of the deepest in a while and even if the Vikings didn’t draft one until the third or fourth round, they would still probably have a better upside than someone like Wright.

So while some would enjoying seeing the former Minnesota receiver suit up in purple again, Wright likely wouldn’t provide much of anything to the team’s current roster.