The Minnesota Vikings are primed to enter the 2023 season with the best wide receiver corps they have employed since the fabled trio of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and Jake Reed. While their second and third options are nowhere near as established as the famed “Three Deep” unit, there is plenty of promise solidifying what were shakier spots around megastar Justin Jefferson.
The NFL’s best receiver looks to continue his reign in 2023, and there is no indication of anything other than dominance from him. He achieved new heights in 2022, setting both personal and team records for most receiving yards in a single season, along with being the recipient of a career-high 184 targets.
Jefferson has defied expectations and obliterated the bar for young receivers. At 24, he is the receiver to chase in nearly all statistical categories. With his second year bringing added familiarity in Kevin O’Connell’s system, there is no doubt Jefferson is capable of anything.
Jefferson’s absence at OTAs was a highly publicized storyline throughout the offseason. Evidently, that time away didn’t cause him to lose a step, which you can see as he gained around five yards of separation from cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., completely burning the second-year player on Kirk Cousins’ perfectly placed deep ball.
Jefferson’s impending contract will certainly be hefty. However, that is not the foremost concern in the generational talent’s mind. His contract is not a worry, and his priority is winning alongside his team.
With those comments along with the certain commitment of the front office to retaining him, fans minds’ should be eased with any regards to his continued employment in Minnesota.
Addison Looks Sharp
Within the shadow of the NFL’s WR1, first-round draft pick Jordan Addison has had a spectacular training camp. Addison has created a spectacle out of defensive backs, finding and settling into space easily like in the clip below.
Addison was renowned coming out of college for his shiftiness and precise routerunning, and he will thrive against the single-coverage matchups he’ll get.
If Addison can amass 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie season and Jefferson performs to 60% of his usual standard, the Vikings would have their first pair of receivers to reach the 1K mark since Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in 2018.
While many questions, comments, and concerns were raised about Addison’s judgment after police pulled him over for speeding, he is in a very good position to learn from his incident. Jefferson is on the record as eager to take him under his wing, and O’Connell and other team members met with the young receiver to discuss it.
Addison was also approached by the media and handled it in a calm, collected manner, stating multiple times that it was a lapse of judgment and that he will learn from the incident.
Addison doesn’t have any off-the-field concerns throughout his collegiate career, so there’s minimal reason to doubt him.
He’s been seen taking punts along with returners Powell and Reagor, an interesting development for the young receiver. Addison has the talent and ability to provide an immediate upgrade. However, it seems questionable for the Vikings to risk injury to their first-round pick at the position. Ultimately, it is just a camp battle, and it could very well have no indication of their regular -season plans.
K.J. Osborn Continues To Fly Under the Radar
Osborn is an oft-overlooked piece in Minnesota’s offense. He has averaged 652.5 receiving yards per season while finishing in the top-three in targets once for the Vikings. Osborn is under contract through the 2023 season but will be a free agent. He is likely looking to prove that he can have higher upside than in the WR2/3 position.
The Vikings felt the need to search for other answers at receiver in the draft, and Osborn has shown capability in action limited by the depth chart.
With clutch moments like a walk-off touchdown against the Carolina Panthers, a 60-yard bomb hauled in for 6 points against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a 10-catch, 157-yard, and one-touchdown effort against the Indianapolis Colts, Osborn has the mentality required for any game-winning player.
The Vikings will likely replace Osborn after the 2023 season. Still, he is a high-end WR3 at worst, and they should take advantage of such a surplus of commendable wide receivers.
Jalen Nailor Is Poised To Take Over the WR4 Job
We shouldn’t forget about Nailor, either. After a rookie season in which he showed promise and developed a connection with Kirk Cousins, he is the immediate favorite for the WR4 job. Nailor compiled 200 receiving yards on nine receptions down the stretch, with 48 of his 49 snaps at wide receiver coming after Week 11.
Nailor has the raw talent to perform well as the Vikings’ immediate WR4. With his most direct competition likely being an unmoving player in Jalen Reagor, he likely has the clearest route to it.
The wide receiver group is the strongest positional unit on the Vikings, and the pass-catchers will have to have a direct and profound impact to make up for the lack of defensive star power. With proven players like premier receiver Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn combined with promising players like Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, the offensive ceiling is sky-high.
