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The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Minnesota Vikings chose not to select a wideout that could fill the WR3 role that’s vacant after the departure of Jalen Nailor in free agency this offseason.
As a result, if the Vikings want to have a reliable wideout behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, they’ll likely head into the veteran free agent market. Moreover, with the trade of Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota has roughly $16 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.
With the Vikings having a little more money to spend, Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker believes that the Vikings should be one of the teams looking to land the veteran free agent receiver.
“Would one of Diggs’ old teams consider a reunion?” Zucker wrote in his April 25 article. “Jordan Addison has yet to make a true breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s depth really falls off once you get past him and Justin Jefferson as well.
“The Vikings have one quarterback on a one-year contract (Kyler Murray) and another who may be heading into a make-or-break season (J.J. McCarthy). Bringing Diggs back to Minneapolis has some merit.”
Last season with the New England Patriots, Diggs turned in an 87.5 overall PFF grade, placing him sixth among 81 qualifying wide receivers. His 87.5 receiving grade ranked seventh in that same group.
He finished with 85 catches on 100 targets for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per reception. He added 363 yards after the catch, was credited with two drops, and had an average depth of target of 8.7 yards.
Minnesota Receives Stefon Diggs Prediction to Fill WR3 Role
With the Vikings needing to fill their WR3 role, Diggs’ name has come up as a potential target that Minnesota could pursue in the veteran free agent market.
For CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, Minnesota will go after Diggs to fill the wideout role behind Jefferson and Addison, should the veteran wide receiver resolve his legal troubles.
“Diggs’ legal trouble is likely why he remains available,” Podell wrote in his CBS Sports article published on April 3. “He pleaded 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 the Minnesota 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.”
Stefon Diggs, Vikings Reunion Makes Sense
Moreover, Podell believes that Diggs would benefit from being the third option for Minnesota, and giving potential starting QB Kyler Murray three reliable wideout options will provide the Vikings the best opportunity to reach the playoffs in the upcoming 2026 season.
“Kevin O’Connell wasn’t the coach in Minnesota when Diggs departed to the Buffalo Bills via a 2020 trade request, and he needs to get Minnesota back to the playoffs in 2026 after a disastrous 2025 with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback,“ Podell wrote.
“Providing Kyler Murray with three high-caliber wideouts would certainly be helpful toward that cause. Plus, Diggs wouldn’t have to work as hard to get open as he ages playing alongside Jefferson and company.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo