Vikings Nab WR in Sporting News Mock Draft
On paper in February, the Minnesota Vikings are fairly set at wide receiver, employing Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette at positions WR1 through WR4. Plus, Irv Smith Jr. will return, bolstering the pass-catching corps.
For a Mike Zimmer team, that’s plenty of passing-game playmakers. But Zimmer doesn’t work for the Vikings anymore. The presumptive new boss man, Kevin O’Connell, may want to play with a more elaborate toolset akin to his current setup in Los Angeles with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Odell Beckham, Van Jefferson, and Tyler Higbee.
And for that reason, the Sporting News‘ latest mock draft theorizes a wide receiver to the Vikings in the 1st Round of April’s draft — Garrett Wilson from the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The author of the mock draft, Vinnie Iyer, explains to Wilson to Minnesota like this:
The Vikings, with Adam Thielen about to enter his 32 season coming off an ankle injury, need to upgrade No. 2 wide receiver for new offensive-minded coach Kevin O’Connell. Wilson is a little safer than Alabama’s Jameson Williams for that purpose. Wilson would be a dynamic after-the-catch complement to the amazing Justin Jefferson with his smarts, quickness, route-running and hands.
– Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
If the Vikings draft a pass-catcher in the 1st Round — or any offensive playmaker, really — new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must nail the free agency period on defense. Minnesota is embarrassingly undermanned on the defensive depth chart, needing an EDGE rusher, linebacker, and cornerback to enter 2022 with a confident outlook. Several players were signed last year to one-year deals on defense, and it is unclear how many will return next season. Therefore, Minnesota is left with the staple-guys like Harrison Smith, Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Tomlinson, and maybe Danielle Hunter — and that’s it.
Aside from requiring a defensive retool-on-the-fly, then, yes, a high-octane playmaker like Wilson checks out. Teams rarely look back on drafts and think, “Why did we waste a draft pick on that game-changer?” Wilson can be just that, especially in an O’Connell Rams-laden offense.
Standing 6’0″ tall, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network describes Wilson like this:
“Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson is a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands and offers the kind of run after catch ability that is sure to command a role at the NFL level. Wilson, who is a part of the crowded wide receiver room in Columbus and has enjoyed a career year in 2021, projects best to the NFL game as a slot receiver, where his short-area agility will afford him more room to work and create space and he can be more naturally crafted quick touches for an offense that commands spacing issues with a prominent vertical passing attack.”
– Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network
Iyer is correct in noting Thielen’s age. Soon, Minnesota will necessitate a replacement for the Vikings beloved wideout. Thielen has missed games to injury (COVID in 2020) in each of the last three seasons and hasn’t tallied 1,000+ receiving yards in a season since 2018.
The interesting part about the Sporting News mock draft? Wilson was the first wide receiver off the board. So, in theory, the Vikings found the most dynamic pass-catcher in the draft pool.
Quarterback Malik Willis from Liberty was chosen one pick before Wilson, landing with the Washington Commanders, who are in dire need of a franchise quarterback.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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).
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