The Vikings Just Said Goodbye to a Wide Receiver
At this time of the year, undrafted talent comes and goes with regularity. A Minnesota rookie wide receiver finds himself on the negative end of those possibilities.
The Vikings have said goodbye to Shaleak Knotts, a pass catcher who offered his college ball to Maryland. Minnesota’s official social media offered up the news: “The #Vikings have waived WR Shaleak Knotts.” All of the online hubbub may have made that news easy to miss given the headlines surrounding Minnesota landing the 2028 NFL Draft.
The Vikings Say Goodbye to Shealeak Knotts
Lately, the Vikings have had eyes on the receiving talent coming out of Maryland.
Perhaps the foremost example rests in Stefon Diggs, somebody who boasts sensational on-field ability. He went in the 5th on the 2015 NFL Draft before quickly proving that he deserved to go far higher.
More broadly, there has been a Vikings effort to plunder the receiving talent coming out of Maryland. The team drafted Tai Felton in the 3rd of the 2025 NFL Draft. Moreover, the UDFA haul from 2024 involved snagging Jeshaun Jones, who was also a Maryland receiver.
Signing Shaleak Knotts was simply one more example of the Vikings looking to add Terrapins to its offensive arsenal.
Last year, Knotts had 44 catches go for 717 yards and 6 touchdowns. Good but not great. What is great, however, was his beefy 16.3 yards-per-catch average, an explosive number. Apparently, he knew how to put his frame (6’3″ and 194 pounds) to use.
On PFF, there’s the clarification that he lined up along the outside for 546 plays. He got kicked inside to the slot for 43 snaps. Being a large receiver lends itself to functioning toward the sideline, but Minnesota does want receivers who can shuffle around the field.
Being the WR5 or WR6 for the Vikings — the job Knotts had been trying to chase down — means needing to do several things well. Most will think of catching the ball, but that may not even be the main criteria for a rookie receiver who went undrafted. Instead, his task may have been to prove to special teams coordinator Matt Daniels that he could help. Prove capable of blocking and tackling like a madman. Maybe even jump into the mix as a returner.
Afterwards, Kevin O’Connell will want to see someone who can grow on offense. Not having the position mastered at the level that Justin Jefferson does is not a disqualifying problem. What is needed, though, is some ability. Knotts will be looking to show these abilities elsewhere now that the Vikings have moved on.
Even after the subtraction, the Vikings are rallying around a loaded position group.
Most notable, of course, is the three-headed monster comprised of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. Very few NFL teams can put such a formidable trio onto the field, if any at all.
Afterwards, there’s likely going to be Tai Felton alongside Myles Price as the WR4 and WR5. Each are special teams monsters who are venturing into their sophomore seasons. Neither is guaranteed of their jobs, but anybody who is coming for their spots will need to prove superior to two guys who are very good at what they do.
Other options are in town to compete, such as Jeshaun Jones, Joaquin Davis, Dontae Fleming, Dillon Bell, and others. Notably, the team is still searching for more receiver talent, made evident in the Vikings recently signing rookie WR Terrill Davis. Of the above players, Mr. Bell appears to be the UDFA rookie who boasts the best chances to make the 53-man roster.
On Over the Cap, there’s the clarification that Shaleak Knotts secured $25,000 in guaranteed money to become a Minnesota Viking. That’s an amount that’s going to get kicked onto the dead money pile. Putting the finances in perspective will mean understanding that Minnesota losing $25K is like a normal person losing a dime.
Carving out a roster spot creates an opportunity to add somebody else. So, watch for the Vikings to sign somebody before too long.
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