4 Wide Receivers Who Should Be on the Vikings’ Radar
Concern has been boiling over in Minnesota due to the state of the Vikings’ wide receiver room.
Multiple injuries along with Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension have left many fans wondering exactly who J.J. McCarthy will be throwing the ball to during his first regular season start against the Chicago Bears on Monday, September 8.
Here is a look at a few veteran wide receivers who could be on Minnesota’s radar heading into the final weeks of training camp.
Odell Beckham Jr.
There were rumors of Odell Beckham Jr. joining the Vikings a couple years ago due to his LSU connection with Justin Jefferson and playing for Kevin O’Connell on the Los Angeles Rams back in 2021.
Of course, Beckham has lost much of his superstar status over the past couple seasons. The three-time Pro Bowler played nine games with the Miami Dolphins last season, totaling nine receptions for just 55 yards;. Beckham now is set to turn 33 years old in November and his best days as an NFL receiver likely are behind him. However, he still is a talented player, is determined to play, and could be an interesting WR2 behind Justin Jefferson.
Amari Cooper
More much of his career, Amari Cooper has quietly been one of the most reliable wide receivers in the NFL. The former fourth overall pick has recorded 1000+ receiving yards in seven of his first 10 seasons. Of course, he took a bit of a step back in 2024 in terms of production, but he also was in a disastrous situation with the Cleveland Browns to begin the year before being traded to the Buffalo Bills.
Despite a step back, Cooper still recorded 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns. Not overwhelming numbers by any means, but they are still respectable. The 31-year-old still has some gas in the tank if the Vikings pick up the phone.
Gabe Davis
Of the free agent options at this point, Gabe Davis is among the youngest at 26 years old who also has proven he can contribute at the NFL level. Despite some hype early on in his career, it seems clear at this point that Davis will never be a WR1 player who can eat up yardage, but he is a red zone threat and could be a strong secondary option behind Jefferson and TE T.J. Hockenson.
Last year, Davis walked into a disastrous situation with the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he totaled just 20 receptions and two touchdown catches. It came after he never had less than 35 receptions or six touchdown receptions during his four years with the Buffalo Bills. Perhaps a transition to Minnesota could get him back on track.
Tyler Boyd
It’s thin-pickings at this time of year in NFL free agency, and while Tyler Boyd isn’t nearly as flashy an option as he would have been 3-4 years ago, perhaps the 31-year-old can rejuvenate his career a bit with the Vikings.
Boyd has steadily seen his receiving yards totals decrease in each of the past five years since he recorded back-to-back 1000-yard seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 and 2019. He recorded 39 receptions for 390 yards with the Tennessee Titans last season, but perhaps a more stable offense for a team that is looking to compete will help him out.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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