The Minnesota Vikings have suffered some major attrition in their receiving corps over the course of the offseason, losing beloved veteran Adam Thielen due to salary cap constraints earlier this week. Now they face the potential loss of receiver Olabisi Johnson, an up-and-coming wideout, to the Patriots in free agency.
Former #Vikings WR Bisi Johnson is flying in to visit the #Patriots today, source said. A young WR with upside, he missed all of last season with an injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2023
Johnson originally signed with Minnesota as a seventh-round pick after the 2019 draft, and was reasonably productive as a rookie, hauling in 31 receptions for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns. He took a step back in 2020, starting in just three games, and missed both of the last two seasons due to knee injuries.
A native of Lakewood Colorado, Johnson played his college ball at Colorado State, setting a single-game receiving record for the Rams with 265 yards in a game against the University of Idaho in the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Though his college accolades are impressive, the fact that he missed the last two seasons due to injury makes him a boom-or-bust prospect for any team interested in securing his talents for the 2023 season. His impressive rookie campaign will likely warrant his inclusion on a roster next season, but Johnson may need some time to reacclimate himself to the field after missing such a significant amount of time.
