The Minnesota Vikings were in a great spot heading into the NFL draft, where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could play it safe. After doing most of his work during the league’s free-agency period, Adofo-Mensah likened this year’s draft to shanking it into the rough and calmly chipping it back onto the fairway, where he could take a safe pick and figure out what to do when his next shot arrived.
The strategy landed Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in Round 1, but the Vikings were in a different situation in Round 3. They traded back to have the final pick of the night and came away with Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton.
Felton is an intriguing pick. Vikings fans may helmet-scout him and think of Stefon Diggs. Others may see Maryland and think of D.J. Moore. But those who watched the tape, including The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, believed he was worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick.
Those opinions don’t matter to the Vikings, who believe they have a player who can fill a need. While Minnesota needs depth, Felton fills a need you’re not considering.
Felton’s collegiate resumé is impressive. After catching 28 passes for 360 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first two seasons, he broke out with 48 catches for 723 yards with six touchdowns during the 2023 campaign. Felton put everything together last fall, setting single-season school records with 96 catches and 1,124 receiving yards. But while he also scored nine times, there was an underlying theme.
The 22-year-old’s athletic profile will catch the eye of any NFL team. At 6’1″, 183 lbs., he has the size to play on the outside. A 4.37-second time in the 40-yard dash suggests he can be a weapon downfield. Even Brugler noted his ability to make adjustments and over-the-shoulder catches downfield. It showed with an average depth of target of 11.8 yards over his four-year career.
But the one really impressive thing? Felton’s ability to create yards after the catch.
Felton was a yards after catch (YAC) machine during his time with the Terrapins. He averaged over six yards after the catch in each of the past three seasons. His 6.1 yards after the catch last year ranked 27th out of qualifying receivers, but it was more impressive considering he was second in the nation with 143 targets behind San Jose State’s Nick Nash.
A lot of YAC on a large sample size confirms it’s not an outlier, and the Vikings’ offense struggled to replicate it last season.
Sam Darnold’s arm had something to do with Kevin O’Connell’s tendency to hunt for big plays downfield. However, the Vikings didn’t have a player who could catch the ball and do something once it was in his hands. Justin Jefferson’s 4.6 YAC per reception led all qualifying wide receivers for Minnesota last season. Jalen Nailor was second with 3.5, and Jordan Addison was third with 3.4. All three receivers had an average depth of target over 12 yards, but rarely did it lead to a big run downfield.
Felton’s numbers would also stack up well with qualifying NFL receivers. His 6.1 YAC per reception would have tied with Moore for eighth last season, and the names ahead of him include Jameson Williams, Brian Thomas Jr., Puka Nacua, and Ja’Marr Chase.
There’s no guarantee that Felton will become those players, but it could be why Minnesota’s offense broke down at times last season. While many fans wondered why O’Connell didn’t call screens or “quick game” when the offensive line got pummelled, he didn’t have a player who could turn it into a big enough play to make it worth the call. Even Aaron Jones, who had 8.4 yards after the catch last season, had a misleading number considering most of his action came with an average depth of target of 0.2 yards, and Felton should help bump that number up.
For a team looking for as many cheat codes as possible for first-year starter J.J. McCarthy, it would be a positive development if Felton’s ability after the catch showed up in the pros. But it also fills the void that most people are talking about.
The Vikings have Jefferson and Addison locked into the top two spots next season. Nailor is also a serviceable depth option. However, Addison is facing a suspension for a July 2024 DUI arrest in California, and Nailor is better suited for his current role than having to jump into the starting lineup.
That created plenty of rumors early in the offseason. Cooper Kupp was a popular target thanks to his previous experience with O’Connell, but he came at a $12 million price point. He wasn’t the only receiver to get paid this offseason. Still, it’s a reminder that an inflated market makes looking in the draft a more fruitful decision.
It also makes sense when you consider Addison’s long-term future. Addison is a solid No. 2 receiver in this offense, but he could also be capable of being a No. 1 somewhere else. With that in mind, Addison could look to get the bag, and the Vikings may have to overspend if they want to keep him around.
It put the Vikings in a situation where they had to at least take a flyer on a receiver in this draft. If the young player turns out, it’s a win for the roster construction. If he doesn’t, you’re only out a third-round pick as opposed to $12 million.
Maybe it’s not quite putting a ball back on the fairway, but the Vikings are still taking a safe approach. If Felton becomes what they think he could be, Minnesota could, at the very least, have a solid player to rely on, and it could fill a pair of needs that nobody is talking about.