WR3 Theories for Vikings Are Shooting for the Stars
The Minnesota Vikings have several in-house options for the open WR3 job and will likely roll with a man already on the roster for the 2024 season.
WR3 Theories for Vikings Are Shooting for the Stars
But according to one outfit, Minnesota could shoot for the stars by obtaining a high-profile third wide receiver, someone like Chris Godwin or Amari Cooper.
The theory is a little suspect because Minnesota probably would’ve signed someone else by now or drafted a rookie WR3 candidate in April. Instead, the Vikings signed Trent Sherfield and called it good. No rookie wide receivers joined via April’s draft.
And with little oomph at the WR3 spot, Last Word on Sports dropped new hypotheticals into the pot last week, serving up names like Godwin and Cooper. On Godwin, LWoS’ Alex Anger wrote, “At 28 years old and coming off another great season, Godwin would probably be the most expensive out of this list, and with the Vikings having only two draft picks in 2025, Godwin may be out of their price range. If they do spend the steep price to get him, there isn’t a better semi-realistic option out there.”
It is unclear if Tampa Bay is willing to trade Godwin.
Anger continued with the Cooper theory, “For the Vikings, Cooper may not be the perfect fit. Cooper and second-year star Jordan Addison both played in similar roles and unless Kevin O’Connell has ideas to use either of them differently- which both guys are good enough to do- this may not be the guy to trade for. Although, no Vikings fan remembers “3-Deep” as guys who all played the same role and struggled because of it. Sometimes, you just have to get talented players and make it work from there.”
In addition to Godwin and Cooper, Angers mentioned Noah Brown of the Houston Texans and Robert Woods from the same team. Brown and Woods are significantly more realistic than trades for Godwin or Cooper because Woods, for example, could be released later this summer.
On the whole, the Vikings don’t have much trade capital to barter for players like Godwin or Cooper. Minnesota traded up the board in April for EDGE rusher Dallas Turner, an expensive transaction that wiped out most of the 2025 draft class.
However, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah does have the funds to fire off a trade. Minnesota has about $26 million in cap space as of late June, creating a path to trade maneuverability if it sees fit.
Otherwise, the Vikings will nominate Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, or Trent Sherfield for WR3 and call it good.
The Vikings’ first regular season game is 76 days away.
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 MIN 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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