After the release of veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, the Minnesota Vikings will likely be looking for a talented pass-catcher to replace his production.
The Minnesota Vikings made the tough decision to move on from Adam Thielen this offseason and now find themselves in a situation where adding more talent at wide receiver seems like a necessity.
With an extremely small amount of salary cap and limited draft capital available, replacing his production before the upcoming season will be a challenge for the team’s front office, but not an impossible task by any means.
Last season, Thielen caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games played as the number two receiver behind megastar Justin Jefferson in Minnesota’s explosive, yet inconsistent offense.
K.J. Osborn may be ready to step up to the plate for a bigger role, but the Minnesota Vikings may still want to bring in a low-priced free agent who can help to make things more difficult for opposing defenses.
Here are four budget-friendly receivers Minnesota could sign after yesterday’s signing of Brandon Powell.
Note: All contract information is from Spotrac.com and stats are from Pro Football Reference.
Richie James, New York Giants
Fans of the Minnesota Vikings probably found themselves cursing the name Richie James during the team’s two matchups against the New York Giants. The young receiver just couldn’t be stopped by Minnesota’s struggling defense.
A seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2018, James’ contribution increased with each of his three years there before signing a one-year deal with the Giants worth $1.065 million and having a bit of a breakout year.
In 2022, the five-foot-nine and 185-pound receiver caught 57 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns while registering his best year in catch percentage. At 27 years old, he could have a very bright future if he continues to evolve.
If the Vikings want to get the most bang for their buck in free agency, Richie James might be one of the best investments currently in the free agent wide receiver pool and could fit well with what Minnesota does offensively.
Chris Moore, Houston Texans
Let’s be honest, the Houston Texans were a train wreck last season. There weren’t a lot of great reasons to tune in to watch the second-worst team in the league struggle with every opponent they faced.
Through all the struggles, Chris Moore was a bright spot. The 29-year-old was a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2016 and was fairly invisible during his first five years in Baltimore, landing with the Texans for 2021 and 2022.
2022 was Moore’s best year as a pro. The six-foot-one wide receiver caught 48 passes for 548 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games played while starting seven of those contests for Houston.
Moore was on a one-year deal with the Texans worth $1.1875 million, making acquiring him a venture that shouldn’t cost a lot of money and it would give him an opportunity to work his way up a depth chart in need of a wide receiver to contribute when his number is called.
Breshad Perriman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Breshaud Perriman has had trouble finding a team to settle down with on a long-term basis. He has played for four teams in his first seven years in the league with three of those seeing him on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster.
Perriman only caught 20 passes in his last two seasons but the former first-round pick of the Ravens in 2015 but showed flashes of potential in 2016, 2019, and 2020 and could shine if given more opportunities.
Standing six-foot-two and weighing 215 pounds, Perriman has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL but hasn’t been in a situation where he has been able to showcase his full potential as a receiver.
A short contract could give him a chance to prove himself on a team that needs to find a contributor. Last season, he played for Tampa Bay on a deal worth $1.2725 million, so it wouldn’t take much for the Minnesota Vikings to roll the dice on a player with some potential who has flashed at times.
Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta Falcons
The most expensive player from last season on this list, Olamide Zaccheaus is also the youngest and possibly the most interesting. An undrafted free agent in 2019, he got better with each of his four years in the league.
Standing five-foot-eight and weighing 193 pounds, Zaccheaus played on a one-year deal with the Falcons worth $2.433 million and more than earned that payday despite playing for an offense that struggled to move the ball through the air.
In 2022, Zaccheaus caught 40 passes for 533 yards and three touchdowns. All of those numbers either set or tied career highs, showing he could continue to improve and evolve as a receiver as he keeps gaining experience.
The fact he worked his way into the starting lineup and has started 23 of his 55 games in the league shows that he works well when given opportunities. If he can be signed for less than $3 million, he could be an interesting addition to the Minnesota Vikings.