The Minnesota Vikings are coming off an underwhelming season, finishing last year with a 9-8 record. That was a significant step back from the team’s 14-3 finish in 2024, so Minnesota has been hard at work this offseason to get back to that 2024 form.
With the busiest part of free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft now complete, the Vikings have a good idea of the roster they’ll be entering the 2026 season with.
Minnesota felt the team needed just a little more, though, because the franchise recently signed veteran wideout Jauan Jennings to a one-year deal. The addition of Jennings addresses what some felt was the Vikings’ biggest remaining weakness.
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz recently looked over the team’s roster and identified the biggest roster hole. Completing that exercise for all 32 teams, Schatz argued that Minnesota's biggest remaining issue is wide receiver.
If wideout was the biggest concern for the team prior to signing Jennings, Vikings fans will be ready to immediately start the season, because that means Minnesota now has a roster ready to contend.
Jauan Jennings immediately fixes what ESPN says was Minnesota Vikings biggest remaining roster hole
In case anyone forgot, Minnesota has Justin Jefferson on its roster — arguably the best receiver in the NFL. In addition to Jefferson, the team has Jordan Addison, a first-round receiver who has posted 2,396 receiving yards in his first three seasons.
Schatz acknowledges their presence and abilities, but still made the argument that wide receiver is the biggest roster hole. The reason why is that the analyst isn’t high on Tai Felton as WR3 or the depth options in the room.
"Justin Jefferson? One of the best. Jordan Addison? The Vikings happily picked up his fifth-year option. But what about a third starting wide receiver? Tai Felton, who had three catches as a rookie in 2025 is the option for now.
There's no depth here, either, as the Vikings don't have another wide receiver who was either drafted or has ever caught a regular season pass in the NFL."
Let’s be real, if the Vikings’ season is coming down to how Tai Felton performs as a WR3, the team has bigger problems. Either way, that’s no longer a problem for Minnesota, because Jennings is now the team’s WR3.
Considering his ability as a blocker, and receiving production — posting 132 receptions for 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns in the last two seasons — the Vikings now have one of the strongest receiver trios in the league.
So if wide receiver was truly the roster’s biggest question mark, then Minnesota doesn’t have any problems at all now. If that’s actually the case on the field, Minnesota should have a season more reflective of 2024, when the Vikings were one of the best teams in the league.
That, of course, is always the goal, as the franchise is trying to win a Super Bowl.
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