Vikings WR Audition Could Come Early
The Minnesota Vikings have seen a looming cloud over Jordan Addison since he decided to drive drunk last offseason. There was a level of uncertainty about what he was actually in trouble for, but the incident is now going to court. Legal ramifications must still play out, but the NFL will be forced to act at some point as well.
The Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver group will get some intriguing reps early on this season, and it could present additional options for the team.
It’s beyond plausible that Addison will be suspended for multiple games at some point this season. If and when that happens, it will mean that Kevin O’Connell must juggle his offensive weapons beyond Justin Jefferson.
Jalen Nailor operated as the Minnesota Vikings’ third wide receiver last year. He was fine for the majority of his reps, but also showed alligator arms at times and failed to secure some big catches. He’ll have immediate competition in the form of Tai Felton and potentially Silas Bolden. How much they can push him may be evident early.
Tai Felton was taken in the third round by Minnesota. They used the 102nd overall pick on the Maryland receiver and would certainly love to see him develop into a second-coming of Stefon Diggs.
Felton was a standout for the Terrapins and left college posting a 1,124-yard season as a senior. He hauled in nine touchdowns and was among the best pass catchers across the entirety of the Big Ten. Minnesota got to see him show out in person against the Gophers, and they would love to see him replicate that performance on Sundays.
It’s unlikely Nailor will lose his starting role early this season, but an opportunity for options further down the depth chart to establish themselves while Addison is out becomes intriguing. O’Connell will be forced to put the best offensive weapons around new quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and that may mean making some tough decisions.
It’s unlikely that Addison wants to play second fiddle on a team during his second contract. Minnesota must find his replacement, and allowing someone to flourish before the decision must be made is hardly a bad way to operate.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities who45 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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