Minnesota Vikings Offseason Storylines to Watch
It’s only natural Vikings fans will want to see how their top pick, Justin Jefferson, is looking right out of the gate.
True, Jefferson’s pre-2019 numbers weren’t overly prolific. It took LSU’s storybook campaign last year, combined with now-Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s efforts, to turn Jefferson into a household name.
That said, Jefferson’s playmaking abilities are unquestioned. Paired with a dynamic offensive system, there’s little reason to assume he won’t thrive in due time.
The only question will be how soon it takes him to get to that point.
Minnesota Vikings’ starting slot receiver
This is a particularly interesting development to watch. Considering how frequent teams use three-wide personnel, a slot receiver is essentially a starter in today’s NFL. And yet the Vikings don’t totally have a clear-cut player to solidify this role.
Second-year pro Davion Davis fits the mold, at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. He needed most of 2019 on the practice squad to hone his skills, though, so one has to wonder if he’ll have a clear path over the rookie, K.J. Osborn, to see early playing time.
Osborn could be the favorite here.
Can Tajaé Sharpe find success?
From a physical standpoint, the 6-foot-2, 194-pound Tajaé Sharpe should be a solid contributor, particularly in the red zone. His rookie season in 2016 netted over 500 yards, and don’t overlook his four touchdowns in 2019.
Yet Sharpe was little more than a supplementary piece in Tennessee. That could ultimately change in Minnesota, though, which should feature a much more balanced offense attack than the primarily run-heavy Titans offense he was in, previously.
Quartney Davis a hidden gem
While he went undrafted, Quartney Davis is a player fans should eye closely this offseason. Bleacher Report tabbed him as one of the undrafted free agents to watch in 2020, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Minnesota use the 6-foot-1, 201-pound rookie as a big slot receiver, featuring his larger size as a mismatch against predominately smaller nickel defensive backs.
If Davis thrives in this potential role, the Vikings could have themselves quite the steal.
So, if Davis makes the 53-man roster, how does the rest of the depth chart pan out?