Vikings insider reveals team's potential WR3 plans for 2024

Following the departure of K.J. Osborn earlier this year, most have assumed that the Minnesota Vikings would attempt to replace his spot on the depth chart by drafting a new wide receiver or signing one in free agency before the 2024 season.

And while the Vikings did end up signing former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Trent Sherfield in free agency this offseason, it seems like Minnesota's focus is elsewhere when it comes to replacing Osborn before the start of the 2024 campaign.

On Thursday, ESPN's Kevin Seifert shared that there have been "indications" during the Vikings' OTAs this spring that the team wants "to gauge the progress of their internal depth" when it comes to the No. 3 receiver role on their roster.

Who could emerge as the Minnesota Vikings WR3 in for the 2024 season?

With the info that Seifert shared, the battle for Minnesota's No. 3 receiver role will likely be between Sherfield, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, and N'Keal Harry. Given his experience and the success he had in the Vikings' offense last season, Powell would appear to currently be the frontrunner to replace Osborn as the team's new WR3 for the 2024 campaign.

In 17 games with Minnesota last season, Powell finished with 29 catches for 324 yards and one touchdown. He was also the Vikings' primary punt returner in 2023, as he averaged 7.8 yards per return on 37 attempts.

It seems like all Powell has to do to open up the 2024 season as Minnesota's No. 3 receiver is remain healthy during training camp and the preseason. It's possible that Sherfield, Jackson, or Harry could become a legitimate threat to win the role this summer, but the chances of this happening still currently seem pretty low.

It also still seems possible that the Vikings could add another veteran free-agent wide receiver to the mix in the near future. Seifert's report suggests this is unlikely, but there's still a ton of time between now and the start of the regular season, so this shouldn't be ruled out just yet.

But if it were up to Minnesota, their ideal scenario probably results in Powell taking over the No. 3 spot on the team's wide receiver depth chart behind Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson.

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