New Vikings Roster Battle Bubbles to Surface
After the 2025 NFL Draft, most Minnesota Vikings fans left the event believing that the “other” cornerback spot next to Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. was the only main roster battle afoot.
New Vikings Roster Battle Bubbles to Surface
While that is correct, another possible roster competition has bubbled to the surface, especially after folks witnessed Round 3 of the draft — the third wide receiver position behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Add a WR3 Battle to Your Summer Ledger
On Friday, April 25th, the Vikings held a much-anticipated 3rd-Round selection that generated excitement because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had no 2nd-Rounders in 2025.
Onlookers expected the pick to be a cornerback, safety, and perhaps defensive tackle. Then, the team announced the choice: wide receiver Tai Felton from Maryland, a speedster wide receiver with high upside.
And just like that, a roster battle was born, particularly for the long term.
Jalen Nailor as the Frontrunner
Of course, the incumbent WR3, Jalen Nailor, is the frontrunner to win the job outright. Few dispute it.
However, the 3rd Round is not a spot in the draft to dink around, insinuating that Felton could be Nailor’s direct replacement. Nailor produced a hot-and-cold season in 2024, his first campaign of three with optimal health. The speedy wideout tabulated 28 receptions for 414 yards and 6 touchdowns. The touchdowns, especially, turned heads.
Nailor, though, is scheduled to enter a contract year in 2025. On paper, drafting Felton looks like a direct replacement plan, akin to Minnesota choosing Dallas Turner in 2024 while letting Patrick Jones II walk via free agency in March 2025.
Tai Felton as the Newcomer
Felton was not some 6th- or 7th-Rounder forecasted for menial impact. Third-round wideouts often do damage in the NFL, and in fact, fans should expect big things from such players.
In the last 10 years, various general managers have pulled these receivers from Round 3:
- Nico Collins
- Tank Dell
- Chris Godwin
- Kenny Golladay
- Cooper Kupp
- Tyler Lockett
- Terry McLaurin
Round 3 is not a playground for lottery tickets in wide receiver-speak. Therefore, Felton should be held to the standard of making an impact. One might argue that a 3rd-Round pass-catcher should actually have no problem whatsoever earning a WR3 job.
A WR1 assignment should be the goal, but Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are obviously in the way.
Rondale Moore as Frisky
As a dark horse, the Vikings signed Rondale Moore from free agency, yet another speedster with WR2 or WR3 upside. He’ll spend the rest of the spring and some of the summer recovering from a season-ending injury he suffered in 2024, but when that heals, well, he’ll demand a shake at WR3.
The Arizona Cardinals picked Moore from Round 2 four years ago, and he, too, should have the stomach for WR3 duties.
PurplePTSD‘s Take
At our partner site, PurplePTSD’s Kyle Joudry noted the budding WR3 topic: “So far, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t shown much of an appetite for paying a WR3. After all, K.J. Osborn walked away for a measly $4 million on a single-season deal. One wonders if the trend will continue, especially due to the scant cap space in 2026.”
“Jalen Nailor is the current WR3, but the Vikings gained some leverage in whatever contract talks could be occurring due to the addition of Tai Felton at No. 102 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Does the plan involve leaning on Nailor for another season before allowing him to head elsewhere in 2026?”
No matter what, between Nailor, Felton, and Moore, the Vikings will showcase speed at WR3.
Joudry added, “Nailor has the inside track to be the WR3 in 2025, but the Vikings don’t seem particularly likely to bring him back unless the price is super team-friendly. Tai Felton gives them a young guy to lean on and a free-agent addition like Rondale Moore functions as a good reminder that upside depth receives can be added in free agency for relatively cheap.”
“Don’t be surprised if Jalen Nailor ends up being traded away. A trio of players from 2022 — Ed Ingram, Vederian Lowe, and Andrew Booth Jr. — have already been shipped out. A Nailor deal would push the total to four before any of those players hit the fourth year in their rookie contracts.”
Nailor, Felton, and Moore could also be in the mix for special teams returning duty.
The current WR3, Nailor, will likely win the post in September, but Felton should be expected to take the job before too long. Otherwise, drafting a receiver in Round 3 with the current roster is silly.
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