Vikings Should Target One Specific Rookie in April
This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings are going to have plenty of things they’ll need to work through. Kevin O’Connell got less out of his offense than in any season while leading the club. What happens at quarterback will be fascinating, but there are other areas to consider for change as well.
If Minnesota wants more speed and flexibility from the tight end position, Sadiq presents a rare blend of explosiveness and mismatch potential worth tracking closely.
Justin Jefferson is the greatest wide receiver on the planet when things are going well. He’s flanked by capable options in Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and T.J. Hockenson, but each has a detractor.
Kenyon Sadiq Fits Minnesota’s Offensive Needs
It’s possible that the trio may not all be back in 2026, and there’s a way for Minnesota to work that to their advantage.
Next season, the Vikings have some serious salary cap maneuvering to work through. Hockenson has been wholly uninspiring since being acquired from the Detroit Lions, and he’ll carry a hit of more than $21 million. He has a dead cap number of just $12.4 million if the team wants to move on.
Of course, with just Josh Oliver and yet to play Gavin Bartholomew behind him, the tight end position would be a need. Sadiq represents the best tight end in the class and brings a level of athleticism that guys like Brock Bowers and Tyler Warren didn’t possess in college.
Sadiq should be considered as a fringe top-10 pick, so the Vikings would need to move up or have something fall into their laps. Adding a tight end could compensate for losing the likes of number three wide receiver Jalen Nailor if he finds the bag elsewhere. In that scenario, Tai Felton may be elevated to replace Nailor.
If Minnesota wants to get even more aggressive, it could consider trading Jordan Addison while keeping Nailor around. Addison will generate a significant haul, and moving him would represent cost savings by avoiding the need to pay him alongside Jefferson. Nailor would cost significantly less, even on a new deal, and he may have positioned himself as a reliable option for O’Connell’s offense.
At any rate, there’s a substantial opportunity to shuffle the roster this offseason, and the level at which Minnesota wants to get aggressive remains to be seen.
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