Dec 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (2) passes to wide receiver Jarvis Landry (5) during warm ups before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports.
As of May 21st, the Minnesota Vikings employ these wide receivers:
A large and somewhat impressive list, huh? Well, they should aim to get even richer, says CBS Sports.
That’s right. CBS Sports‘ Cody Benjamin became a free-agent matchmaker last weekend, nominating various free agents for 10 teams to pursue. For the Vikings, that was Jarvis Landry, a wide receiver who last played for the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns.
Landry is a productive wideout, indeed, tallying 7,870 receiving yards in nine seasons, 38 touchdowns, and five Pro Bowls. But why would the Vikings need him?
Benjamin explained, “The Vikings already addressed wide receiver by spending a first-rounder on Jordan Addison, whose route-running skills should pair perfectly with the explosive Justin Jefferson. But Landry shouldn’t cost much. If healthy, he’d profile as solid competition for K.J. Osborn in the slot, especially as Minnesota potentially goes even more pass-oriented amid Dalvin Cook’s uncertain future.”
Landry, 30, only caught 25 balls for 272 yards last year, a relative footnote in an offense for the first time in his career.
The ex-Saint recently pounded his chest on Twitter, detailing his robust resume to a naysayer, “5x Pro Bowler, 2017 Rec Champion, most Catches In the First 3,4,5,6,7 years than anyone in the history of Football and my last 3 years..”
Benjamin might be on to something with Landry — if the Vikings didn’t draft Jordan Addison in April. Minnesota used a 1st-Round pick on Addison, seeming to pave the way for his 2023 arrival at WR2. The club also has K.J. Osborn on the roster, who will vie for the WR2 job later this summer.
Landry would assuredly add depth to the WR room, but not many Vikings faithful believe more WRs are needed at the moment. Perhaps a Landry phone call would be prudent if injuries beset Justin Jefferson, Addison, Osborn, Jalen Reagor, or Jalen Nailor.
For now, however, adding a target-needy wide receiver in Landry doesn’t quite make sense.
He’s damn good and underrated playmaker, though.
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.