The Minnesota Vikings are in dire need of a top-tier wide receiver in the upcoming draft. They released veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen prior to free agence and failed to find a suitable replacement.
With the draft just three weeks away, the Vikings’ current roster behind Justin Jefferson consists of K.J. Osborn, Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor and the newly signed Brandon Powell. Outside of Osborn, none of them have played significnt snaps with the Vikings.
Fortunately, the upcoming NFL Draft class has an exceptional pool of talented wide receivers. This gives the Vikings a promising opportunity to address their concerns. I identified one wide receiver from each round of the draft that the Vikings possess.
1st Round: Boston College's Zay Flowers
It would not be surprising to see the Vikings select a receiver on day one of the draft. It is one of their biggest needs with their current roster. Flowers stands out as one of the most electrifying receivers in this class, possessing elite-level skills and the ability to play both in the slot and on the outside.
Although Flowers is undersized, he has demonstrated his ability to play larger than his frame throughout college. In addition to his speed and positional flexibility, Flowers also excels in contested catch situations and displays exceptional skills in catching deep balls.
3rd Round: Michigan State's Jayden Reed
Reed consistently produced at the college level by utilizing his versatility to play multiple positions and on special teams. Although not the most polished receiver, he has an exceptional ability to evade defenders once the ball is in his possession. Reed’s dependable hands make him an ideal possession receiver, rather than a deep threat, that can assist in maintaining drives.
4th Round: Iowa State's Xavier Hutchinson
Hutchinson has the potential to be one of the biggest steals in the later rounds. His size and physicality, combined with his knowledge of the subtleties of playing the position make him really intriguing. While he may struggle to outrun defenders, Hutchinson’s ability to beat press coverage will serve him well. To succeed at the next level, he will need to rely on his football IQ and savvy.
5th Round: BYU's Puka Nacua
Nacua has displayed the ability to win on the outside by utilizing his physicality. In college, he continuously showed off his reliable hands and willingly makes catches in traffic over the middle. Nacua’s route-running skills are a bit raw and will require improvement to gain separation at the next level. The ability to gain yards after the catch make him a prospect worth developing.
6th Round: West Virginia's Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Ford-Wheaton possesses a physical frame and excels in winning contested catches. His stature and length make him an ideal X-receiver, but he requires further development in other facets of his game. His route-running skills need to be polished, and he experiences occasional drops. Ford-Wheaton is a potential day-three draft pick with untapped potential that can be harnessed through the right coaching.
