The Vikings Nailed the WR3 Decision
The Minnesota Vikings needed to improve their offense this offseason. Wide receiver K.J. Osborn was a free agent, and it never looked like he would be back.
The Vikings Nailed the WR3 Decision
They banked on Jalen Nailor to fill the role, but it seemed questionable. However, at this point, it’s hard to argue against their being right.
Osborn had a nice opening to his career for Minnesota, but it was clear that he was not trending in a positive direction. The otherwise productive slot wideout dropped passes at an alarming rate last season, and he failed to convert in spots that otherwise seemed like a lock for him.
Moving on to Nailor caused some concern given his lack of production and, more importantly, availability. He had often been a player who caused excitement but simply could not stay on the field. That hasn’t been a problem this season, and he has stepped up in some big ways.
There have been more than a game or two where his presence isn’t felt in the box score. That said, while Jordan Addison was hurt early on, it was Nailor who stepped in and was able to produce. When called upon, even in short bursts with a full complement of talent around him, Nailor has risen to the occasion.
It’s fair to note that the Michigan State product hasn’t been perfect, but he has been consistent. The 280 yards are easily a career-high, and quarterback Sam Darnold trusts him enough to have connected for five touchdowns. There have been instances in which he becomes the checkdown option for a timely conversion, and the offense has rolled because of it.
Hunter Renfrow and Robert Woods were mentioned while considering what should happen in Osborn’s absence. The former isn’t employed, and the latter remains buried on the Houston Texans’ depth chart. At this point, it’s clear that neither would have been the ideal answer for the Minnesota Vikings.
You will struggle to stand out when playing behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Nailor hasn’t stood out, but the Vikings don’t need him to either. He may not finish with the numbers that Osborn put up at his best, but there’s no denying that Minnesota made the right choice when figuring out how to round out their receiver room.
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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 daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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