Vikings Have Rumored Interest In Two Wide Outs
Adam Warwas
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The Minnesota Vikings have made some major moves in an effort to provide protection up front for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and that is continuing over night with a visit from right tackle Andre Smith reportedly taking place. However, they haven’t forgotten that Bridgewater also needs weapons around him and they are rumored to be cautiously window shopping for wide outs.
As I look over the list of remaining free agent pass catchers, one name clearly resides above the rest in my assessment, and that guy was on our roster very recently. I was really hoping to see Mike Wallace return for a second year in Minnesota, playing indoors and with more protection for his quarterback, but his release from Minnesota reportedly doesn’t make that second year an impossibility.
Ian Rapoport tweeted this weekend that Wallace’s return to Minnesota was still “on the table.” This comes along with news that Wallace will visit the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, but it is expected that the Ravens are not able or willing to spend a great deal of money for the services of the speedy Wallace.
Wallace could very well be kicking himself right now if he is finding that the open market is less lucrative than whatever it was the Vikings had been offering him as a restructure. For that reason, it seems very possible that Wallace could indeed return to the Vikings if the stars align just right.
He may also be a possibility for another former team of his, as the Pittsburgh Steelers are potentially going to play all of 2016 without their young star Martavis Bryant following his suspension.
There is also a rumor floating around the internet that Vikings Territory has been unable to locate the origination of. So, let say that again to make sure it is clear: We regard this as nothing more than a rumor at this point. That rumor is that the Vikings have expressed interest in free agent wide out Rueben Randle formerly of the New York Giants.
WR Rueben Randle is being shown interest by the Vikings
— Best NFL Matchups (@best_nfl) March 13, 2016
Randle has yet to turn 25 years old and boasts prototype size at 6′ 2″ and 208 pounds. I know the start of his career had been frustratingly inconsistent for Giants fans, but that isn’t to say it has been all bad. He had a career high in yards in 2014 with 938 and also posted a career high in 2015 with eight touchdowns. Both of those numbers are considerably higher than any posted by receivers on the Vikings roster last season.
Randle has also been quite durable, playing in all 64 regular season games of his career.
Rick Spielman would almost certainly like to have at least one more legitimate wide out on the roster prior to the NFL Draft, but it remains to be seen if Wallace or Rueben could actually end up being brought aboard.
The Vikings could absolutely be targeting receivers in the upcoming Draft, regardless of whether or not they sign a free agent, and here are the prospects that we’ve compiled scouting reports for so far:
Geronimo Allison
Tyler Boyd
Josh Doctson
Rashard Higgins
Sterling Shepard
Michael Thomas
Laquon Treadwell