Are you wondering why people are suddenly talking about the Minnesota Vikings drafting a receiver in the first round? I was too. But there are a few good reasons why they might. Honestly, it’s probably the next likely position of need after cornerback, even with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen on the roster.
Here’s why they might go receiver instead of corner or another position of need in the first round.
It seems like this idea started picking up steam around the time of Derek Stingley Jr.’s pro day. Stingley has had his fair share of injuries, but his draft stock continues to rise. He might be gone before the Vikings pick, even though he’s a frequent target for them in mock drafts.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is another Vikings target. But he’s highly touted as Stingley, and there are a lot of teams desperate for help in the secondary. Minnesota may be stuck running the corners they already have on the roster to start the season. That’s nothing to worry about, though.
To cope with the idea that Stingley and Gardner could both be gone before the Vikings pick, people started throwing out the similarities to when the Vikings drafted Randy Moss in 1998. It’s ridiculous, but it makes sense once the comparison is fully fleshed out.
The Vikings did not need Moss, but they picked him because he was the best player available (BPA). They drafted for value instead of need, and it worked out. If there are no corners on the board at 12, then BPA is the best approach.
Receiver is a less pressing need because the team has a little depth at receiver, with K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette showing some flashes last season. They don’t need a receiver so much as it would benefit their roster for the years to come.
But the Vikings will have a greater need for receiver due to Kevin O’Connell‘s 11-personnel packages on offense. It will be a stark change from the Kubiaks’ run-first concepts. They need at least three starting-caliber receivers and could use some depth and injury insurance.
There probably isn’t a Moss in this draft, but the concept of drafting the BPA instead of reaching is a no-brainer. It’s a very strong draft for receivers, and that’s good for the Vikings for a couple of reasons.
If a lot of receivers come off the board early, then it’s more likely one of the premier defensive backs will be available. The Vikings can either take one or trade back if there are still premier receivers on the board. Consider that there’s no pressure for a rookie receiver to start right away because they can sit behind Jefferson and Thielen.
But that doesn’t solve the issue the Vikings have in the secondary. The thing is, I’d argue it isn’t as bad as it seems on paper. While they’re not part of the secondary, the Za’Darius Smith, Jordan Hicks, and Harrison Phillips signings directly affect the corners. A good pass rush helps improve a secondary.
Suppose the opposing quarterback can’t step up in the pocket if there’s no time for plays to develop. That puts less pressure on the secondary. A good secondary can indeed help the pass rush too. In the Vikings’ case, they chose to work on the defensive front instead of swinging big for corners – although they re-signed Patrick Peterson to a $4 million contract.
So, if the team really does draft a wide receiver early, would it be a waste because they have one of the best duos in the league? Absolutely not.
Based on the contracts given to Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, and even Brandin Cooks, it’s clear that Jefferson will be the highest-paid receiver in NFL history soon. He’s had the best two seasons to start a career, and he now has a coach who wants to pass the ball.
Barring a career interruption, Jefferson will take up a significant portion of the cap, and Thielen is soon going to be past his prime. Drafting a receiver high can save cap space and the need for a receiver later. Just like with quarterbacks, teams should take advantage of receivers on rookie contracts now with their salaries rising.
Initially, it seems silly to draft a receiver in the first round. But if the stars align and a stud falls to the Vikings, it makes perfect sense for them to swing big on another receiver, especially if they want to run O’Connell’s 11-personnel offense to its fullest.
