Veteran Viking Buried on First Depth Chart
Remember back in March when veteran wide receiver Trent Sherfield joined the Minnesota Vikings via free agency and some thought, “Boom. There’s the new WR3?”
Veteran Viking Buried on First Depth Chart
That theory might’ve been concocted too flippantly in the heat of the moment.
The Vikings released a first unofficial depth chart on Tuesday, and Sherfield’s name snuck in around WR6 or WR7 — which would probably place the man on the outside looking in if roster trimdowns were held today. Put bluntly, Sherfield is buried on the depth chart, at least on the first version.
This is Minnesota’s first WR depth chart:
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jalen Nailor
WR4: Brandon Powell
WR5: Trishton Jackson
WR6: Jeshaun Jones
WR7: Trent Sherfield
WR8: Ty James
WR9: Lucky Jackson
WR10: Thayer Thomas
WR11: Malik Knowles
Minnesota’s WR3 from 2021 to 2023, K.J. Osborn, signed with the New England Patriots in March, indicating Kevin O’Connell’s offense would utilize a new WR3 this season.
Because Sherfield was the only notable free-agent wide receiver added in free agency, he became a natural candidate. However, that hypothesis might’ve been wrong.
Sherfield has played in 95 career games, gaining 141 targets in six years and accumulating 78 receptions for 930 yards and 5 touchdowns. With Josh Allen and friends in 2023, he was targeted just 22 times — akin to Johnny Mundt’s numbers with the 2023 Vikings.
Third-year pass-catcher Jalen Nailor has taken training camp by storm, very vividly on deck as the WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. After Jefferson, Addison, and Nailor on the depth chart. Brandon Powell is the next in line. And that leaves Sherfield in WR6 or WR7 territory, which can also be interpreted as the roster bubble.
Most Vikings fans have settled on Nailor as the probable WR3. The position will be vital early in 2024 for two reasons a) Minnesota will showcase a new quarterback — Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy, and that man will need all the help he can get to succeed b) T.J. Hockenson will likely miss the start of the season, heightening WR3 importance.
Of course, Minnesota has three preseason games afoot — this first one is Saturday — and Sherfield could absolutely dazzle and win a WR3 or WR4 job after all. That is possible.
Yet, after a quiet training camp and even quieter depth chart designation, making the team feels like a longshot for the 28-year-old.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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