Vikings Imply WR Not on Draft Menu
If your draft Holy Grail for the 2022 Minnesota Vikings is getting richer on offense with a wide receiver like Garrett Wilson, Drake London, or Jameson Williams, it’s time to adjust expectations.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talked with reporters on Tuesday, implying wide receiver was not a team need, especially in the 1st Round.
Speaking about team selflessness and eyes on the collective, collaborative prize, Adofo-Mensah used an example from wide receiver coach Keenan McCardell, who evidently advocated against drafting a wideout early in the draft.
McCardell joined the Vikings coaching staff in 2021, and when the franchise cleaned house with new general management and coaches, McCardell was the last man standing for coaching holdovers. Even beloved men like Andre Patterson trekked to new teams. But McCardell stayed, pairing with first-year skipper Kevin O’Connell.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1000332″ player=”26279″ title=”Justin%20Ekstrom%20Joins%20VikesNow%20for%20Draft%20Week” duration=”1307″ description=”Dustin Baker chats with Justin Ekstrom from KNSI Sports about his draft prediction and Vikings offseason insights.” uploaddate=”2022-04-26″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1000332_th_1650975653.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1000332.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
The 2022 NFL Draft is packed with talented wide receivers, with at least four pegged for 1st-Round draft stock: Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave — and maybe even Treylon Burks and Jahan Dotson. But unless Adofo-Mensah and McCardell are telling bold tall-tales, the Vikings won’t leave Round 1 with a WR.
Currently, the Vikings employ Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Dan Chisena, and Olabisi Johnson for a WR corps. Still, some Vikings enthusiasts envision Minnesota channeling 1998 energy when the franchise drafted Randy Moss. During that draft, the Vikings had Cris Carter and Jake Reed on the team, not necessarily needing another pass-catcher. But Jeff Diamond, the general manager at the time, had other plans, changing Vikings history forever with Moss’ selection.
Conversely, this time around, according to draft aficionados, Adofo-Mensah is expected to select a cornerback with his 12th pick. The theories generally revolve around Derek Stingley Jr., Trent McDuffie, Andrew Booth Jr., or Ahmad Gardner (if the draft gets funky).
Of course, Adofo-Mensah could theoretically disregard McCardell completely and “do it his way,” but the clue from Tuesday is noteworthy because McCardell believes the WR room is ready for 2022. And for a wide receiver coach who played wide receiver as a professional to say “we good” on his current batch of wide receivers — suggests a wide receiver in this draft isn’t a top priority. In fact, for Vikings fans, this should be classified as wonderful news, inferring Osborn, Smith-Marsette, and Johnson are progressing as planned.
Too, the Vikings could trade down in the draft, as momentum for the idea has increased in recent weeks.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
You must be logged in to post a comment.