Former Viking Is about as ‘Journeyman’ as a Journeyman Can Get
On March 31st, 2023, the Dallas Cowboys hosted wide receiver Laquon Treadwell for a tryout. No deal materialized from the visit.
Former Viking Is about as ‘Journeyman’ as a Journeyman Can Get
Fast forward about two months and Treadwell latched onto the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Ravens are adding another receiver: They’ve agreed to terms with onetime Vikings first-round pick Laquon Treadwell on a one-year deal, his agent Michael Portner said.”
And that marks seven teams in eight seasons for Treadwell, who hasn’t been a part of a team in back-to-back seasons since his days with the Vikings. Perhaps the Ravens will have the special sauce, or vice versa, for the 27-year-old.
Treadwell last played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, appearing in 6 games and grabbing 6 catches for 42 yards. He also joined the Arizona Cardinals last October, but the relationship only lasted a couple of weeks.
This is Treadwell’s resume to date:
- Minnesota Vikings (2016–2019)
- Atlanta Falcons (2020)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)
- New England Patriots (2022)
- Arizona Cardinals (2022)
- Seattle Seahawks (2022)
- Baltimore Ravens (2023)
The Vikings drafted Treadwell in 2016 with the 23rd overall pick but did not receive a profitable return on investment. Minnesota repeatedly tried to adapt Treadwell to the passing game, but he didn’t catch on. He was a phenomenal teammate and an “intangibles player” while failing to stuff box scores with receptions and yards.
Minnesota selected Treadwell in that draft seven years ago at a spot where it could’ve landed Xavien Howard, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas, or Kenny Clark. But that type of example can be cited for nearly any pick in any draft. The Mike Zimmer-led Vikings vehemently clung to Treadwell, hoping he’d bust out to relevance. He played in 53 Vikings games in four years, tabulating just 701 receiving yards and two touchdowns. It was a rare 1st-Round miss for the Vikings at wide receiver, a franchise known for Mosses, Harvins, and Jeffersons.
Treadwell notched a ‘career year’ in 2021 with the Jaguars, though, accruing 33 catches for 434 yards on a putrid Urban Meyer-led Jacksonville team. All told in his career, he’s produced 110 receptions for 1,126 yards and 5 touchdowns — in 76 games. Treadwell averages 16.1 receiving yards per game.
The Ravens WR room contains Odell Beckham, Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Devin Duvernay, Nelson Agholor, James Proche II, Mike Thomas, Tylan Wallace, Shema Bridges, Tarik Black, Andy Isabella, Sean Rya, Dontay Demus — and now Treadwell.
It’ll be an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster, but stranger things have happened.
Treadwell turns 28 in eight days.
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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