5 potential options if any Vikings receivers miss time in 2020
By Dustin Baker
Trade for James Washington
The 24-year-old from Oklahoma State University isn’t said to be disenchanted with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. But he does wiggle into trading-block conversations from time to time.
On their current depth chart, Pittsburgh has JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Dionte Johnson, and rookie Chase Claypool slated to fill out the wide receiver position. This is not a groundbreaking group of talent, but it would not be implausible for the team to deal one for a draft pick or so at some point in 2020.
Washington averaged 16.7 yards per reception in 2019 and of all the wideouts that caught at least 25 passes in the NFL last season, his average ranked 11th. The man stretches the field.
Even without the possibility of the Vikings losing players to absences related to COVID-19, Washington still makes some sense to bolster the receiving room. It would become a crowded room for Minnesota, but the team would put the best players on the field, obviously.
The Vikings would probably have to send a fourth or fifth-round draft pick to the Steelers to retain the services of Washington, especially if Minnesota appeared to be in a desperate situation.