Jalen Nailor, Minnesota Vikings
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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have yet to fill that third wide receiver role on the depth chart. With the NFL Draft approaching on April 23, the Vikings could use one of their picks on a player who can fill that role at a non-expensive price instead of pursuing a veteran.
Minnesota holds the No. 18 pick on Day 1 of the draft, and could they decide that going with a receiver might be too much to pass up? The Vikings have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but beyond them, there’s not much depth.
Furthermore, the Vikings have a decision to make soon about whether to sign Addison to a long-term contract. As a result, if one of the top wideouts is there at 18, do the Vikings pass up an opportunity to take him?
On April 10, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that he expects former USC Trojans wideout Makai Lemon to be taken in the 16 to 18 range of the first round.
“My best guess here is that two receivers go in the Top 15,”Rapoport said during his appearance on “The Insiders.”“Then the third receiver, who, at this point, I would say there’s a pretty decent chance is Makai Lemon from USC, ends up being the third receiver.
“I know a lot of teams like him. A lot of teams compare him to Amon-Ra St. Brown. I would expect him to go probably just after 15. So after 15 is 16, and then after that, 17, 18. That is a pretty good spot potentially for Makai Lemon.”
Why Makai Lemon Could Be Avaliable at No. 18?
Moreover, the reason why Rapoport believes one of the top receiving prospects could fall outside the Top 15 is due to teams having other needs outside of a receiver.
“My read right now is two receivers go in the top 15, which is not saying anything about the quality of the receivers,“ Rapoport noted. “It more says that teams are going to need tackles and maybe a guard, and a bunch of edges, and maybe a corner, certainly a corner. There’s just not enough room for everyone.”
Perhaps the Vikings don’t take Lemon if he’s there when they select at No. 18, but they could entertain trading back for a team that wants the receiver, especially if Minnesota wants to draft someone that might be a reach at their draft position.
Could the Vikings Go the Veteran Route to Find a WR3?
Nonetheless, the Vikings could decide that they want a proven veteran to replace Nailor as the team’s WR3. For CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, he predicts Minnesota will go for a familiar face in Stefon Diggs, who played last season with the New England Patriots, to fill the wideout role behind Jefferson and Addison, should the veteran wide receiver resolve his legal trouble.
“Diggs’ legal trouble is likely why he remains available,“Podell wrote in his CBS Sports article published on April 3. “Hepleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs’ attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is ‘completely innocent.‘
“If Diggs’ legal process is resolved, a homecoming to theMinnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there’s an opening at Minnesota’s WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.”