DeAndre Hopkins
Getty
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Minnesota Vikings‘ focus this offseason has been on constructing a quarterback room to safeguard against a lack of depth at the position that cost them dearly last year, but the time has come for the team to move on and address an equally pressing, if not equally obvious, need elsewhere on the offense.
Judd Zulgad of SKOR North was emphatic on Tuesday, March 24 that Minnesota must look at the wide receiver spot behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and add at least one, if not multiple, viable options over the next month or so.
“The Vikings need to start stocking the wide receiver room,” Zulgad said. “Justin Jefferson is a superstar, but he has been hurt before, can’t count on the fact he won’t be hurt again. I hope he’s not. Jordan Addison has missed games because of injury, because of suspension. He’s coming back, no question. And then after that, your WR3 — unknown at this point.”
Zulgad noted DeAndre Hopkins — most recently of the Baltimore Ravens, who played with new Vikings QB and prospective starter Kyler Murray as members of the Arizona Cardinals for three seasons between 2020-22 — as a strong candidate.
“If you wanna sign Hopkins who is in his 30s, but he’s still a productive enough player, and draft a wide receiver,” Zulgad continued. “You know, right now, if I’m not mistaken, Tai Felton is your WR3. And the last time we saw Tai Felton — who they say is improving, but who knows — he was your gunner [on special teams].”
DeAndre Hopkins, Kyler Murray Excelled Together With Cardinals
Deandre Hopkins, Minnesota Vikings
GettyFormer Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins, who is a free agent heading into his age-34 campaign, spoke to TMZ over the weekend and expressed his affinity for Murray along with a willingness, and even desire, to join him in Minnesota.
“Kyler, that’s my bro, man. Kyler is like family,”Hopkins said. “Whatever I can do for someone like that. If Kyler needed me, if the Vikings need me, they know I’ll be there.”
Hopkins is a five-time All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. One of each of those honors came in 2020, the first year he played with Murray in Arizona. Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and earned those honors in 2020 and 2021, playing with Hopkins as his WR1 in both campaigns.
For his career, Hopkins has produced 1,006 receptions, 13,295 receiving yards (active NFL leader) and 95 receiving TDs. He tallied 221 of those catches for 2,696 yards and 17 scores during his three years with Murray (35 games played). Hopkins caught just 22 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns last season in Baltimore.
Vikings Need 3 Quality Wide Receivers, Plus Depth in Kevin O’Connell’s Offense
Kevin O'Connell Andy Dalton
GettyHead coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell often plays three-wide receiver sets, which makes both a WR3 and depth behind the top three players in the position group more important for Minnesota than for most other teams in the NFL.
“My modest proposal is let’s get going on stocking that room with players,” Zulgad said. “And I would have no problem with signing a veteran free agent in what is now … the third wave, probably, of free agency. I would have no problem signing a player right now, I would have no problem drafting one.”
“But I need to see you build depth here, because you don’t have enough,” Zulgad continued. “And if Jefferson or Addison go down, you are gonna be in big trouble. There is time to do it, but I think that should be a real focus right now.”