Vikings WR Room Just Got Deeper

Vikings WR Room Just Got Deeper
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports.

With rumors abound of Dede Westbrook potentially returning to the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah veered in a different direction on Tuesday, signing former Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins WR Albert Wilson.

The Vikings did make Westbrook an offer, but he was reportedly reluctant to accept as other teams are interested in the wide receiver.

Wilson was interested, though, signing a one-year, $1.12 million deal with Minnesota. The contact is non-guaranteed.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports.

Wilson is a career WR3-WR4 type, spending his first four seasons in Kansas City inside the Alex Smith era and the last three campaigns with various quarterbacks in Miami. In 89 career games, Wilson has grabbed 218 receptions for 2,499 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wilson has also returned kicks here and there.

At Georgia State, Wilson was a machine. He caught passes, returned kicks and punts, and totaled 6,235 yards, a Top 30 mark when he left the collegiate level. The Chiefs found Wilson in 2014 as an undrafted free agent.

With the Vikings, his role is unclear as of June 1st. Minnesota could use a punt returner to replace the aforementioned Westbrook, but Wilson would need a return to his Georgia State roots for the job, which is conceivable. As Wilson joins the Vikings WR room, the club now has 12 wide receivers:

  • WR1: Justin Jefferson
  • WR2: Adam Thielen
  • WR3: K.J. Osborn
  • WR4: Ihmir Smith-Marsette
  • WR5: Albert Wilson
  • WR6: Olabisi Johnson
  • WR7: Dan Chisena
  • WR8: Jalen Nailor
  • WR9: Blake Proehl
  • WR10: Myron Mitchell
  • WR11: Trishton Jackson
  • WR12: Thomas Hennigan
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports.

Wilson was at the peak of his power in 2017, the year before Patrick Mahomes formally took over, tallying 554 receiving yards on 62 targets. His arrival in Minnesota signals Vikings fans that an offensive era of football is firmly underway. If Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer were still in charge, the WR section of the depth chart would likely be “set.”

But this brand of Vikings is hedging bets and throwing more darts at the offensive and special teams board.

Wilson turns 30 this summer.


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).

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