Rick Spielman

Laquon Treadwell: “I Fell to the Right Spot”

NFL Draft 2016

by Austin Belisle - Apr 29, 2016

Laquon Treadwell wasn’t the first wide receiver selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. He wasn’t the second receiver drafted, and he wasn’t even the third pass catcher off the board. No, that was Josh Doctson, who went one spot ahead of the Minnesota Vikings to the Washington Redskins.

The Vikings may not have gotten their guy, but Laquon Treadwell is definitely happy to be in Minnesota. While speaking with the media in a late-night conference call yesterday, he expressed gratitude for falling “to the right spot.”

“I’m just a kid coming up and chasing dreams. You always want to go as high as possible, so I was surprised, I just think I fell to the right spot. It’s just an amazing experience, honestly. I was shocked, I just thanked I went to the right program and organization. It’s just a lot for me right now.”

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Hit the Quon: Meet Laquon Treadwell [PODCAST]

Podcast

by Andy Carlson - Apr 29, 2016

Laquon Treadwell is the newest member of the Minnesota Fightin’ Vikings raiding party. We take a closer look at the young man from Ole Miss, how he overcame a gruesome injury his sophomore year to become a first round NFL pick, why I love his demeanor and maturity beyond his 20-years on this planet, and what he brings to the Vikings offense. Teddy Bridgewater, Stefon Diggs, and Norv Turner have to be very pleased getting the “Ambassador of Quon” in the building.

All that and other “Cris Carter Was Slow Too…..” nonsense on this edition of the Purple FTW! Podcast.

An Andy Carlson Joint

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Best of the Rest: Who Could the Vikings Select on Day Two of the Draft?

NFL Draft 2016

by Adam Patrick - Apr 29, 2016

tempVEN_6269--nfl_mezz_1280_1024 — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

So now that the Minnesota Vikings have filled a need at wide receiver with Laquon Treadwell, what other prospects will catch their eye on day two of the NFL Draft? Heading into the draft’s second day, the Vikings currently hold the 23rd picks in both the second and third rounds.

Then again, anything can happen when Rick Spielman is your team’s general manager.

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Five Thoughts From Round One

NFL Draft 2016

by Sam Neumann - Apr 28, 2016

thoughts from round one — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

1. Treadwell it is.

In the past few weeks, the majority of first round projections slowly came around to slotting Laquon Treadwell to the Vikings at pick 23, and that’s indeed what happened. From what I can tell, the fanbase was more or less split between Treadwell and TCU’s Josh Doctson, but the Vikes didn’t have to make that call—Doctson went one pick earlier to the Redskins.

The first round fell in a favorable way for Minnesota, with Treadwell, Myles Jack, Robert Nkemdiche, et al., all available at 23. Corey Coleman was the first receiver picked (15th to the Browns), and surprisingly, Will Fuller was the next (21 to the Texans). That left the Vikings guaranteed to have the chance to select either Doctson or Treadwell, which was a pretty ideal scenario.

2. The next Dez Bryant?

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Spielman, Zimmer Praise Treadwell’s Size, Intangibles

NFL Draft 2016

by Austin Belisle - Apr 28, 2016

Treadwell's Size, Intangibles — Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Predictable picks, surprising falls, and a slew of trades kicked off the opening hour of the 2016 NFL Draft. As expected, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz were the first two players off the board. The Dallas Cowboys found their next franchise running back in Ezekiel Elliott. And the Chicago Bears traded up for the first time in 20 years.

But it was the Minnesota Vikings, late in the first round, who stuck to a familiar script and drafted Laquon Treadwell with the 23rd-overall selection. Treadwell fills an obvious need for a team desperate for more explosiveness and production at the wide receiver position. After taking the stage and shaking hands with Commissioner Goddell, Treadwell spoke to NFL Network’s Deion Sanders.

“I’m not upset, I’m honored,” he said after sliding to the bottom half of the first round. “The Vikings, I’m just proud to be part of the Vikings right now. It’s a journey, it’s part of the journey. You have to stay strong and keep fighting.”

And when asked to asess the roster and the Vikings’ current coaching staff, Treadwell voiced extreme optimism. “Sounds like a Super Bowl to me.”

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