Will the Minnesota Vikings ultimately draft a wide receiver in Round 1 on Thursday night? Probably not. Can a wide receiver be ruled out for the Vikings in Round 1? Probably not. The following is the case for a 1st-Round receiver as Minnesota’s pick — and it’s really not that wacky.
Wide receiver remains a live possibility for Minnesota at No. 18.
If the Vikings are in the mood for this, there are plenty of options at Pick No. 18.
Pick No. 18 Has Several Intriguing Receiver Paths, Including WR
This is the case for a Round 1 wideout in purple.
1. Jordan Addison’s Behavior Is Unpredictable
Addison has been arrested three times since the Vikings drafted him in 2023, and he also missed a team walkthrough in London last year.
At any minute — unfortunately — the guy could do something dumb and be sidelined indefinitely or flat-out off the roster. That’s the risk with Addison. Keeping that in mind, having a contingency plan in-house, like Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson or Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., isn’t the worst idea ever.
2. The Previous WR3, Jalen Nailor, Left
Nailor picked new pastures this offseason, choosing the Las Vegas Raiders, which is where he grew up. The Vikings have no WR3 — unless they trust the next guy on this list.
If there is no vivid WR3, a team should draft one, right? That’s the mentality here, as the Vikings could get richer than most at WR3 by picking a Round 1 wideout.
3. Nobody Knows if Tai Felton Is Any Good
Felton, a 3rd-Round pick by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last year, played 26 offensive snaps as a rookie. Minnesota went out of its way not to play Felton by trading for a washed Adam Thielen. Not a good sign.
There’s a chance that Felton blossoms this summer. But what if he’s simply another Adofo-Mensah bust? You guessed it — Minnesota would need a third receiver.
4. The Main Drafter Is an Offense-First Head Coach
When the Vikings’ owners fired Adofo-Mensah, they made Kevin O’Connell the Team CEO through their actions. O’Connell is a former quarterback. An offense guy. Like Mike Zimmer loving cornerbacks, O’Connell might just believe in investing in the offense at all costs.
Therefore, a dynamic extra weapon — such as 1st-Round WR — cannot be ruled out.
5. Justin Jefferson Isn’t a Lock to Stick around Forever
Close your eyes and plug your ears. If the Vikings don’t win soon and seriously contend for a Super Bowl, even the nicest of guys (Jefferson) could opt for a change of scenery. Next offseason is when Jefferson could reasonably request a trade, while the Vikings could bow to the request in a wise financial manner.
Suppose Minnesota misses the postseason in 2026, pissing Jefferson off and prompting his agent to look for a way out. See: Randy Moss in 2005. A Jefferson-less Vikings roster would need WRs. If they drafted Tyson or Cooper Jr. in 2026, it wouldn’t feel like doomsday at WR in 2027.
6. A WR Logjam at the Vikings’ Spot
At Pick No. 18, wide receiver is actually a hotspot. These men may be there for the taking:
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
- Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
- Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
- Denzel Boston (Washington)
Not every position is like that. For instance, at defensive tackle, there’s only one player who makes sense at the Vikings’ spot: Peter Woods.
The plentiful options increase Minnesota’s chances of giving in to the WR temptation.
7. The BPA Argument
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski recently said that he wholeheartedly believes in the “best player available” philosophy. What if a) he’s telling the truth? b) that player is Jordyn Tyson, for example?
He’d have to put his money where his mouth is.
8. Drafting WRs Is What the Vikings Do Best
In the last 35 years, the Vikings have drafted these wide receivers:
- Jordan Addison
- Stefon Diggs
- Percy Harvin
- Justin Jefferson
- Randy Moss
- Jake Reed
They also found Adam Thielen in undrafted free agency and gave Cris Carter his big chance, which turned into a Hall of Fame career.
This is what the Vikings do — find stud WRs. Why would they stop now?
9. WR Is a Premium Position; Safeties Are Not
The draft frontrunners for the Vikings right now are safeties: Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. That’s all fine and dandy, but safety is not a premium NFL position. Teams can find a decent safety for half the price of an equally productive wide receiver in free agency. And that statement isn’t debateable.
Not all NFL teams honor this philosophy, but if the Vikings do, it should wipe a 1st-Round safety off their radar. That would clear the way to examine Tyson, Cooper, Concepcion, or Boston.
