Vikings Meet with Speedy Rookie WR
The NFL Draft is exactly one month away, and the Minnesota Vikings have four picks on tap for the event.
Vikings Meet with Speedy Rookie WR
It’s the fewest in the NFL, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must nail the selections — or conduct a few trades to add more picks.
And Minnesota evidently has its eyes on one speed merchant from the draft — Baylor’s Monaray Baldwin, a wide receiver.
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling tweeted Sunday, “The Vikings met with Baylor WR Monaray Baldwin at the Big 12 Pro Day, source said. Baldwin ran a 4.32 40 and averaged 17 yard per reception over the past three years. Could be worth keeping in mind as a late-round deep threat.”
Who Is Monaray Baldwin?
Baldwin turned 22 in December and is 5’9″ and 170 pounds. He’s a typical speedy wideout with slight size but an electrifying trait. Think: Rondale Moore, who just joined the Vikings’ roster last week.
NFL Draft Buzz‘s Eli Cooper describes the young playmaker: “Baldwin’s elite athleticism and game-breaking speed make him an intriguing day-three prospect with the potential to carve out a niche role at the next level. His ability to take the top off defenses and create explosive plays in the passing game will certainly pique the interest of NFL offensive coordinators looking to add a dynamic element to their receiving corps.
“The Baylor product’s surprising play strength and versatility as a gadget player and returner further bolsters his draft stock.”
Vikings fans adore wide receivers from the draft — mainly because of the team’s rich history at the roster spot — and would warm up to Baldwin quite quickly.
Cooper added, “Scheme fit will be crucial for Baldwin’s NFL success. He profiles best in a spread offense that can leverage his deep speed and yards-after-catch ability, potentially as a slot receiver or in a role similar to how some teams deploy their undersized speedsters.”
“While his physical limitations may cap his ceiling as an outside receiver, Baldwin’s elite speed and playmaking potential could make him a valuable situational weapon and special teams contributor for a creative offensive mind willing to scheme touches for him in space.”
Where in the Draft?
Baldwin currently lives on the Consensus Big Board at No. 326 — yes, there — which implies he could be on Minnesota’s undrafted free agency radar.
Adofo-Mensah could also take a late-round flyer on Baldwin if he finds a way to finagle some 7th-Round picks. He has none as of March 24th. Last year, the Vikings scooped defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriquez in Round 7 when many believed he’d be available via UDFA.
The Vikings’ WR Room
This is Minnesota’s WR unit as of late March:
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jalen Nailor
WR4: Rondale Moore
WR4: Tim Jones
WR5: Jeshaun Jones
WR6: Thayer Thomas
WR7: Lucky Jackson
This section of the depth chart generally expands to 10 or 11 players by the summer, so more pass-catchers will be on the way, likely from undrafted free agency.
Baldwin could be one of those options.
Round 1 Possibilities at the Top of the Ticket
While Vikings’ roster needs are certainly a widespread discussion at the moment, Adofo-Mensah fundamentally crossed most off the list during the last two weeks with a spending spree mostly unforeseen to onlookers.
In the 1st-Round, unrelated to Baldwin, these are the likeliest rookies to turn purple in one month:
- Trey Amos (CB)
- Jahdae Barron (CB)
- Tyler Booker (iOL)
- Kenneth Grant (DT)
- Maxwell Hairston (CB)
- Derrick Harmon (DT)
- Walter Nolen (DT)
- Shavon Revel Jr. (CB)
- Malaki Starks (S)
- Grey Zabel (iOL)
The Vikings made headlines two years ago by onboarding linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. from undrafted free agency, who rapidly morphed into a right-away starter.
Perhaps Baldwin could become the next UDFA prize.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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