5 offensive prospects for the Vikings to watch at the 2021 Senior Bowl

Nico Collins – WR (Michigan)

The Vikings have one of the better wide receiver duos in the league in Adam Thielen and breakout rookie sensation Justin Jefferson. The depth behind those two is where the problem lies and the team needs to bring in some talent via the draft.

Bisi Johnson took a major step backward in 2020, catching zero touchdowns and hauling in about half as many balls as he did his rookie season. K.J. Osborn was a non-factor as a pass catcher and Chad Beebe is strictly a slot guy. Minnesota needs to strengthen this unit as a whole and one element they lack with the current group is a big-bodied pass catcher.

A guy who would fill that role for the team is Michigan’s Nico Collins. Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Collins scored 13 career touchdowns with 78 total receptions for 1,388 yards during his time in college.

The Senior Bowl week of practices and the game itself will be huge for Collins’ draft stock, as he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. He can give the Vikings that big red zone target that they currently lack in their receiving corps and he is also a guy who can go up and high point the ball for a key reception.

It’s hard to say at this point where Collins will come off the board in this year’s draft. He is probably someone Minnesota could land with one of their many third or fourth-round choices and he could potentially carve out a role as early as his rookie season.