Minnesota Vikings host an intriguing player on a visit that sends a strong signal to the roster
General manager Nolan Teasley continues to look everywhere to find talent, and they aren’t sparing any expense to do it.
The Minnesota Vikings continue to search every avenue for talent to help their football team. Minnesota is starting its bye week and won’t play again for 13 days. Still, the Vikings hosted wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on a visit Monday, and he could give their offense a real boost.
Smith-Schuster is a familiar name across the NFL. Adding a veteran wide receiver with his resume this deep into the year would say a lot about where the Vikings stand with their current group of pass catchers.
Minnesota Vikings host JuJu Smith-Schuster on a visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Smith-Schuster in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He put together a good five-year tenure with Pittsburgh to begin his career, including a Pro Bowl selection in his second season in 2018.
His final year with the Steelers didn’t go the way he wanted. Smith-Schuster played in just five games that season because of injury.
From there, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and also played with them in both 2024 and 2025. He won a Super Bowl with Kansas City, and his best season with the Chiefs saw him catch 78 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns. He was a strong complementary piece next to tight end Travis Kelce.
Over nine years in the NFL, Smith-Schuster has caught 481 passes for 5,624 yards and 33 touchdowns. He can line up at either the Z receiver spot or in the slot, which gives an offensive coordinator plenty of flexibility.
Why Smith-Schuster fits what the Vikings are becoming
Smith-Schuster is more of an intermediate route runner. He creates separation with nuance and savvy rather than pure speed, and that skill set lines up well with where the Vikings’ offense seems to be heading.
Minnesota appears to be transitioning toward a shorter passing game built around quarterback Kyler Murray’s strengths. The Vikings also appear to be shifting to more of a ball-control style on offense because their defense has been so good. When your defense is playing at that level, you don’t need to win every game through the air with explosives. You need receivers who can move the chains, stay on schedule, and protect the football.
A savvy veteran who wins underneath and in the intermediate areas is exactly the type of player who thrives in that structure. Smith-Schuster wouldn’t need to be the focal point. He would need to be dependable on third down and give Murray a trustworthy option when the play breaks down.
The visit is also a strong signal that things are not working out with wide receiver Jauan Jennings, along with Tai Felton and Myles Price not panning out nearly as well as their training camps suggested, either.
Price had a crucial fumble against the New Orleans Saints. Jonas Sanker scooped it up and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 13. Mistakes like that are hard to overcome for a team trying to win with defense and ball control.
Felton has been inconsistent with his route running over the course of the season. Even with his elevated snap count, his play just hasn’t leveled out enough to give the Vikings confidence in him. Jennings also falls in that same category. That combination leaves Minnesota with a clear need for stability at the position. A veteran who has already won at the highest level could provide that.
Is Smith-Schuster the guy to help balance things out? That is yet to be seen. He turns 30 on Nov. 22, which means there should still be a little bit of juice left in his legs. He doesn’t need to be the player he was in 2018 to help, either.
As a complementary piece, Smith-Schuster could end up having a real impact for the Vikings. Whether Minnesota decides to sign him or somebody else before the bye week ends is the next thing to watch.
