The Vikings might have the best group of pass catchers in the NFL.
Not only do they have a talented trio in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor at receiver, they have a security blanket underneath in T.J. Hockenson at tight end.
The issue for the Vikings is they won’t be a full strength for the foreseeable future.
Though it appears Jefferson is nearly back to 100% after suffering hamstring injury early in training camp, Addison will open the season with a suspension that will keep him out until Week 4, and Nailor is dealing with a hand injury that could linger.
That might explain why NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero recently reported that the Vikings are exploring the trade market.
There’s no reason for the Vikings to overreact to their current situation, so a blockbuster deal with, say, the Washington Commanders for the disgruntled Terry McLaurin seems like a long shot.
That doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t try to improve their roster, either by flipping a pick in the middle rounds, or swapping a pick in the later rounds.
Here are five receivers that make sense for the Vikings:
Adam Thielen
This would be much more than the Vikings making a fun headline.
Never mind that Thielen isn’t as impactful as he was with the Vikings at the peak of his powers. He’s shown he still has tread on the tires with steady production since signing with the Carolina Panthers.
It’s not crazy to think the Panthers would be willing to part ways with Thielen if the price is right. They have a number of young receivers that need playing time, including Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
The sticking point for the Vikings might end up being money. Are they willing to pay Thielen’s base salary of roughly $6 million if he will likely take a backseat as soon as Addison returns from his suspension?
The pros might outweigh the cons when considering everything Thielen brings to the table. He wouldn’t need much time to acclimate to the offense after playing for Kevin O’Connell in the past. He also caught passes from J.J. McCarthy over the summer during a workout at Woodbury High School.
Odell Beckham Jr.
This wouldn’t require the Vikings having to give up an asset as Beckman is currently a free agent. There have been multiple reports over the past couple of weeks indicating Beckham is hoping to continue playing in some way, shape or form.
Beckham isn’t the dynamic player he was in his prime. He struggled to produce during his most recent stint with Miami, for example, and probably can no longer be a player that drives winning by himself.
Could he still be a meaningful contributor in a lesser role? If the Vikings decide to engage with Beckham, O’Connell would be a big part of answering that question.
That Beckham already has some familiarity with O’Connell could go a long way in his potential recruitment, as they seemed to bring out the best in each other on their way to winning a Super Bowl together with the Rams.
Allen Lazard
If the Vikings are looking for experience, it’s worth keeping an eye on Lazard over the next couple of weeks. He has underwhelmed since signing with the New York Jets, so a change of scenery could be in order if the Vikings show interest.
The most intriguing part about Lazard is that he probably wouldn’t cost much.
There’s still a lot to like about Lazard on paper, however, as he’s a proven pass catcher, and his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame makes him a legitimate threat in the red zone. That’s how he made a name for himself with the Packers early in his career.
Kendrick Bourne
Unfortunately for the Vikings, they didn’t get an opportunity to see Bourne in person during joint practices with the New England Patriots. He’s still working through a leg injury that has kept him off the field for the past few weeks.
There’s a chance Bourne gets cut by the Patriots in the near future, so the Vikings could get him without giving up an asset. If they decide they want to jump the line, they could probably swap a pick in the later rounds to make it happen.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) warms up before playing against the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL preseason football game, Sunday, Aug.11, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Rams defeated the Cowboys 13-12. He could be a potential trade candidate for the Vikings. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Jalen Tolbert
There have been examples of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah buying the dip in the past. He did it early in his tenure with the Vikings, acquiring Jalen Reagor from the Philadelphia Eagles without paying a premium.
Could the Vikings do something similar with the Dallas Cowboys? Just because it didn’t work out with Reagor doesn’t mean it won’t with Tolbert.
It’s worth noting Tolbert would probably cost the Vikings a little bit more than some other players out there. He was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and could be in position to take on more responsibility for the Cowboys.
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