Vikings 53-man roster predictions heading into 2023 training camp
Wide Receivers (7)
- Justin Jefferson
- K.J. Osborn
- Jordan Addison (R)
- Jalen Nailor
- Jalen Reagor
- Malik Knowles (R)
- Brandon Powell
The top three (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and K.J. Osborn) are obvious choices, you can make a case for Jalen Nailor as well. After those four, the wide receiver position gets tricky.
Jalen Raegor has not lived up to the hype he received when he was drafted ahead of Jefferson in 2020, and his limited play in Minnesota has been dreadful (i.e. Colts game), but it's too soon to give up on him.
Malik Knowles is a name we all need to look out for at training camp; the guy is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. There's an eerie resemblance to Cordarrelle Patterson in his game, both are electrifying on special teams and when the ball is in their hands, but both are not much of a receiving threat, so much so for Patterson that he changed positions in Atlanta to full time running back. This could be the guideline for success for Knowles in Minnesota.
The final spot in the receiver room is a toss-up, and in this case, veteran wideout Brandon Powell cracks the 53-man roster. Powell spent the 2021 season playing for Kevin O'Connell in Los Angeles, which gives the former Florida Gator a leg up against the likes of Trishton Jackson, Blake Proehl, and undrafted rookies Thayer Thomas and Cephus Johnson III. Don't be surprised if Powell is the starting punt returner in 2023.