Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmet during warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports.
Six months. That’s how long former Minnesota Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell’s latest stint in the NFL lasted.
The Baltimore Ravens, just a few days from a Divisional Round playoff matchup with the Houston Texans, dropped Treadwell this week, furthering the once-promising Viking’s career odyssey.
ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted Monday, “The Ravens have waived WR Laquon Treadwell and placed DB Damarion Williams on injured reserve.”
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 his next team will provide the special sauce, or vice versa, for the 28-year-old.
Here’s Treadwell’s career resume to date:
Treadwell played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, appearing in 6 games and grabbing 6 catches for 42 yards. He also joined the Arizona Cardinals in October 2022, but the relationship only lasted a couple of weeks. In Baltimore, he grabbed one reception for 16 yards, spending most of 2023 on the practice squad.
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 111 receptions for 1,242 yards and 5 touchdowns — in 81 games. Treadwell averages 15.3 receiving yards per game.
Without Treadwell, the Ravens WR room contains Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, and Tylan Wallace. The Ravens’ passing game ranks fifth in the NFL per DVOA, an impressive mark, especially considering the club places No. 1 in rushing DVOA.
Baltimore also employs former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, who signed on for the playoff push 12 days ago, Michael Pierce (DT), and Dan Chisena (WR).
Oddsmakers peg the Ravens as the second-most-likely squad to win the Super Bowl, with +275 odds, behind the San Francisco 49ers at +175.
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.