C’mon Larry Fitzgerald, play your final NFL season in Minnesota
By Adam Patrick
To finish his NFL career, Larry Fitzgerald should head back to his home state and play for the Minnesota Vikings.
With the impressive emergence of Justin Jefferson last season, the Minnesota Vikings continued to have one of the top wide receiver duos in the NFL despite the departure of Stefon Diggs.
Jefferson and Adam Thielen will be at the top of Minnesota’s receiver depth chart again in 2021, but the position group still needs some changes. It feels like the Vikings have been searching for a reliable No. 3 wide receiver forever now, and this year is no different.
Minnesota has typically gone after younger veteran pass-catchers to fill the role. But what if the Vikings changed their approach this offseason and made an attempt to sign one of the greatest receivers from the state of Minnesota?
Minnesota Vikings should consider a pursuit of Larry Fitzgerald
For the third year in a row, Larry Fitzgerald will begin the offseason as a free agent. During each of the two previous times he hit free agency, the thought of Fitzgerald returning to his home state to play for the Vikings has crossed some people’s minds.
Could this finally be the year that Minnesota is able to convince the All-Pro receiver to sign with the team he used to be a ball boy for?
Given his age (37) and his production experiencing a decrease recently, Fitzgerald could actually be a good option for the Vikings to bring in as their No. 3 wide receiver.
Minnesota doesn’t need a superstar to be their third receiver next season. They should be looking for someone who can just be another reliable option for Kirk Cousins when Jefferson and Thielen aren’t able to get open.
Even though his production has taken a dip during the last few years, Fitzgerald still managed to catch 54 passes last season. His ability to break tackles and gain yards after the catch isn’t as great as it used to be. But 52.5 percent of his receptions since 2018 have resulted in a first down, so he can still be a reliable option for an offense.
Fitzgerald has made at least $11 million in each of his last four seasons, but the Vikings might be able to sign him for a much lower amount due to his current age and level of production.
Unsurprisingly, Fitzgerald is currently deciding whether to retire from the NFL. If he chooses to return for at least one more year and the Arizona Cardinals aren’t interested in re-signing him, the Vikings should do their best to try to bring the Minneapolis, Minnesota native home for the 2021 season.