Vikings enter NFL Draft in great shape and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should take intriguing direction that's led to playoff success in the past
Free agency has changed a lot for the Minnesota Vikings over the course of the last few weeks. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah maneuvered really well to maximize the return for the Vikings. Not only did they get top-end talent at multiple positions, but that leaves the trenches in a significantly better place. He also fortified […]
Free agency has changed a lot for the Minnesota Vikings over the course of the last few weeks.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah maneuvered really well to maximize the return for the Vikings. Not only did they get top-end talent at multiple positions, but that leaves the trenches in a significantly better place. He also fortified the secondary to a stable point, leaving the door open for multiple different options come the NFL Draft.
The goal entering the NFL Draft, which is in just over three weeks, is to not have a single dire need so you can play the market to your advantage.
Vikings should consider wide receiver in round one
One of the benefits that the Vikings have when it comes to the NFL Draft is they don't have to draft a certain position. They were pigeonholed in 2023 with wide receiver and last year with quarterback. Without that burden, the Vikings have a flexibility that Adofo-Mensah has yet to have in his fourth offseason.
That's why they should consider taking a wide receiver in the first round. Let me explain.
Right now, the Vikings have somewhat of a need at wide receiver. The future at the position is unclear right now with Jalen Nailor set to be a free agent after the season. In fact, only Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are under contract after the 2025 season. Depth is a key need, but is it worth taking one in round one?
Wide receiver three in the Vikings' offense gets about 50% of the snaps. That is what Nailor got last season, whereas Jefferson and Addison were both at or around 90% of snaps in the games they played (Addison missed two with an ankle injury). That 50% number could end up going higher with the right player on the board. That element is the key to this situation.
Since 1998, the Vikings have selected six wide receivers in the first round:
- 1998: Randy Moss-21st overall
- 2005: Troy Williamson-7th overall
- 2009: Percy Harvin-22nd overall
- 2013: Cordarrelle Patterson-29th overall
- 2016: Laquon Treadwell-23rd overall
- 2020: Justin Jefferson-22nd overall
- 2023: Jordan Addison-23rd overall
That's a pretty good lineage of players in the early 20s of the NFL Draft. The Vikings hit four of five players in that range. What's interesting here is the success the Vikings have had taking a wide receiver early without it being a top need. When they selected Moss and Harvin in the first round, they didn't have a dire need at the position. They took the true best player available, and it resulted in making the NFC Championship Game both times, ultimately losing in overtime by three in each one.
The one caveat that exists here is simple: is there a player worth taking in the first round? That is going to be subjective from draft analyst to draft analyst. I believe three players are going to be very intriguing if they make it to 24th overall:
- Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan
- Missouri's Luther Burden III
- Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka
Bringing one of those players in would do wonders for the offense, making it an incredible roster and infrastructure for new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, which should be the priority for Adofo-Mensah.
Are there multiple other positions that should be the priority for the Vikings? That's a good argument. However, are any of the players they could take at those positions will make more of an impact? That makes the conversation a little bit different.
The Vikings could take one of those receivers and elevate an already-great offensive unit, especially if they get a great yards-after-catch weapon like Burden. He would get single coverage almost exclusively, making things easier for his transition to the NFL and it could make it easier for the likes of Jefferson and Addison as well.
It's an off-the-wall selection, but don't rule it out.
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