Dec 13, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) celebrates with wide receivers Hunter Renfrow (13) and Henry Ruggs III (11) after a touchdown catch the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings kick off training camp next weekend. They will do so hoping to turn around a record that had them on the losing side of things last year. Right now, they still have money to spend, and there are a couple of places where they could spend it. Will either happen, though?
When the Minnesota Vikings ultimately break camp and head into the regular season, it stands to reason that their roster will have experienced some additions. The wide receiver room and cornerback position seemingly leave something to be desired. Both position groups could use one more addition, but are there better odds on one over the other?
The Vikings currently employ a talented duo at the top at wide receiver. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison may be the most impressive tandem across all of football. The problem is that there really isn’t an answer behind them, and with K.J. Osborn no longer on the roster, the third wide receiver has been left up entirely to chance.
Brandon Powell and Jalen Nailor will be given every opportunity to take the role and run with it, but there’s a potential reality that neither will. Powell has been mostly an under-the-radar veteran while Nailor has yet to stay healthy or emerge as a developmental prospect. With T.J. Hockenson set to miss substantial time this season, it stands to reason that Kevin O’Connell would want to provide another weapon for his quarterbacks.
Hunter Renfrow remains an unsigned free agent, and Robert Woods is a potential cut candidate. Those are two names that continue to pop up, and the Vikings could easily employ either of them. Whether or not they will remains to be seen, but an addition at the wide receiver position before Week 1 seems like a worthy cause.
Even before the tragedy that took Khyree Jackson from us, the cornerback room left something to be desired. Byron Murphy Jr. and Shaq Griffin are the projected starters, but then it’s a rotation of guys who failed to step up a season ago. Akayleb Evans was benched multiple times, Mekhi Blackmon only emerged late, and Andrew Booth Jr. has been nothing short of a mixed bag.
It seemed like former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard was a no-brainer from a free-agent standpoint, thanks to his connection with Brian Flores. That has yet to take place, and former standout veteran Stephon Gilmore is also twisting in the wind. Again, Minnesota could afford to grab either but hasn’t made a move.
There will be cut candidates that could also be appealing, but it seems logical to infuse a needy defense with more talent sooner rather than later. Maybe the Vikings do nothing, but addressing one or both of these holes makes sense before the games count.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.