Vikings Sign Minnesota Native WR
Twelve wasn’t enough, so the Minnesota Vikings reportedly added a 13th wide receiver to the depth chart on Thursday.
He’s Garett Maag, a native Minnesotan and University of North Dakota alumnus.
Vikings Sign Minnesota Native WR
Maag fills out the Vikings 90-man roster after veteran tight end Ben Ellefson surprised many on the same day with a retirement announcement.
The new Viking tallied 165 receptions for 2,247 yards and 19 touchdowns in five years at UND. NFL Draft analyst Ryan Fowler uplifted Maag’s stock heading into this year’s draft with a tweet, “Looking for a potential Day 3 sleeper at WR? Meet North Dakota’s Garett Maag.” He also outlined Maag’s physical profile:
- 6’4, 206 lbs
- 40-time: 4.49
- Vertical: 40.5″
- 3-Cone: 6.90
- SS: 4.34
- Broad: 10’5″
Speaking about his Pro Day and draft lead-up, Maag said in March, “I was happy with what I did there, so I decided to just bench and run routes. Both pro day opportunities are amazing. It was good teams came up here. I know it’s out of the way, so I appreciate them coming up.”
Maag also fielded tryouts with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles before signing on the Vikings dotted line this week. Minnesota has been immersed in organized team activities since last week, an event that continues into this week and next, as well. After that, it’s mandatory minicamp on June 13th.
Minnesota’s WR room is crowded, and Maag joins a group that will be trimmed to five or six on August 29th:
- WR1: Justin Jefferson
- WR2: Jordan Addison
- WR3: K.J. Osborn
- WR4: Jalen Nailor
- WR5: Jalen Reagor
- WR6: Brandon Powell
- WR7: Blake Proehl
- WR8: Trishton Jackson
- WR9: Cephus Johnson
- WR10: Malik Knowles
- WR11: Thayer Thomas
- WR12: Lucky Jackson
- WR13: Garett Maag
The Vikings signed Jackson (WR12 above) last week, a standout from the alternative football league, the XFL. Another XFLer, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, also worked out in Minnesota recently but has not signed as of June 1st.
Like several roster moves since the end of the 2023 NFL Draft, Maag faces an extreme longshot to make the Vikings roster or even the practice squad. In less than three months, the roster will dip from 90 men to 53, and the odds of Maag surviving the roster cut from 13 wide receivers to five or six are incredibly slim. But spending the summer in Minnesota, especially for a man born in the state (he’s from Inver Grove Heights), is an invaluable segue to the NFL.
The Fighting Hawks finished 7-5 last season, Maag’s senior year.
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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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