Veteran WR Buried on Vikings 1st Depth Chart
Dustin Baker
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If the Minnesota Vikings first unofficial depth chart is interpreted somewhat literally, veteran wide receiver Albert Wilson faces an uphill battle to make the team’s 53-man roster.
Other unsung WRs like Myron Mitchell and Bisi Johnson appeared to pass Wilson on the roster, with the start of preseason games two days away.
Wilson, 30, joined the Vikings at the end of May when negotiations between incumbent WR and punt returner Dede Westbrook broke off. The ex-Miami Dolphin was theorized for WR5 and special teams duty early on, but now Wilson must [evidently] showcase a tremendous preseason to make the regular season roster.
On the depth chart release, Wilson seemed to live in WR9 or WR10 territory, quite the tumble for a man once utilized as WR3 on other NFL teams. And while the Vikings could keep up to seven wide receivers on the active roster, there is simply no roster room for nine or ten men at the position.
Wilson signed a one-year, $1.12 million deal with Minnesota as a free agent. The contact is non-guaranteed. Therefore, if the current depth chart holds, the Vikings will not encounter a grave financial penalty in jettisoning the Georgia State alumnus.
He spent 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.
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.
In years past — before the arrival of new leader Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell — signing Wilson may have been the end-all for a Vikings WR3 or WR4 pursuit. But in the last year or so, other players like K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and possibly Myron Mitchell have emerged as contributors. In that regard, Wilson may not be needed.
Minnesota also drafted Jalen Nailor from Michigan State in the 6th Round. Nailor could be another “hurdle” for Wilson’s roster pursuit because of his versatility in returning punts. Wilson wasn’t etched anywhere on the Vikings kick-return or punt-return section of the depth chart.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson had 163 snaps in the slot and 196 out wide in 2021. If he somehow conducts a preseason about-face in the next four weeks, Wilson could be used all over the place based on his resume.
The Vikings travel to Nevada on Sunday for a date with the Las Vegas Raiders, the first preseason game of 2022. Wilson should experience a few drives in the contest.
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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