What is the Most Realistic Option for Vikings at WR3?
Dustin Baker
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Olabisi Johnson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Chad Beebe, K.J. Osborn, Dan Chisena, Blake Proehl, Myron Mitchell, and Whop Philyor – these are the Minnesota Vikings current on-roster options to fill the WR3 position for 2021. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen hold the titles of WR1 and WR2 interchangeably, forming one of the NFL’s top receiving tandems – probably only surpassed by the new supergroup for the Tennessee Titans (A.J. Brown, Julio Jones) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin).
The Vikings exalt total stardom at WR1 and WR2 while glancing over the WR3 rung on the ladder. And, this is purposeful. Head coach Mike Zimmer doesn’t have a never-WR3 mindset as a matter of edict. His offenses, though, just don’t really emphasize the importance of the position. In fact, the Vikings ranked dead last in the NFL during 2020 for frequency in which three-WR sets were utilized. Minnesota prefers tight end and fullback utility to that of WR3 – that’s just the way it goes for now. That mentality is a Gary Kubiak-infused philosophy for the Vikings as evidenced in the lack of WR3 input during 2019 and 2020. The Vikings WR3s were targeted modestly (more than 2019-2020) from 2014 to 2018.
Father Kubiak was replaced by Klint Kubiak, son of Gary, this offseason to lead the offense, so it will be telling to determine if WR3 sets are still disregarded. The men share a last name and ate around the same dinner table for 18 years, but that does not equate to acute football-likemindedness. Perhaps Son Kubiak will target the WR3 more frequently.
There is still a chance that general manager Rick Spielman signs a free agent to play WR3. Names like Dede Westbrook, Larry Fitzgerald, and Isaiah Ford are oft-rumored as possibilities because the Vikings uncharacteristically have money to spend this summer. That could happen. If one of those players signs on the dotted line, the WR3 mystery is solved.
If the Vikings choose not to add any more external players to the wide receiver room, then the safest best [in terms of a prediction] for a Week 1 starter at WR3 is Chad Beebe. For some stretches of 2019, Olabisi Johnson felt like a surprise late-round discovery, but his second act in 2020 did not secure the title going forward.
There is also the echo chamber that suggests rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette snatches the job due to speed and rapid maturation. Indeed, that theory is full of pizazz. Yet, always recall the Vikings were skittish about letting Justin Jefferson take meaningful snaps out of the gate last September. Do you wholeheartedly believe they toss Smith-Marsette into the starting lineup as a total change of mindset? Maybe – but Zimmer will likely rely on what he knows. In this case, it’s Chad Beebe.
The Vikings coaching staff has long adored Beebe. Kirk Cousins targeted him 30 times in 2020 (which almost feels like a big deal for a Vikings WR3), connecting for 201 receiving yards and two touchdowns. One of the scores transpired in redemptive manner against the Carolina Panthers. With less than one minute to go in the 4th Quarter, Beebe hauled in laser touchdown pass from Cousins while trailing Carolina by six points. Beebe was slammed to the turf, hanging onto the football for a game-winning score. Earlier in the contest, he fumbled a punt return that, at the time, was considered a dagger to Minnesota’s chances for victory.
That “moment” did not win him the 2021 job, but it did affirm that Beebe has a short memory, displaying the capability to bounce back from a wretched miscue.
The other options on the roster for WR3 don’t yet have those moments. Therefore, Beebe is probably the incumbent. He’s sure-handed and pretty damn quick on the field, carrying hopes that he can blossom into the bonafide WR3 gig at age 27.
Thankfully, the stakes are not incredibly high for Beebe. The Vikings will showcase Irv Smith Jr. more prominently with Kyle Rudolph trekking to the New York Giants. Zimmer also likes to run the football. Couple that with two target hogs in Jefferson and Thielen and mere table scraps are leftover for Beebe – or whoever makes it out of Eagan as the WR3.
For now, the frontrunner by default is Beebe.