The Vikings will be entering training camp in a few weeks with quite a few new faces.
The team has started to lose several players since its run to an NFC Championship game in the 2017 season, with the wide receiver responsible for the Minneapolis Miracle being one of those departures.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs was a focal point for opposing defenses in 2019 but that is going to change with him now playing in Buffalo. Though Vikings coach Mike Zimmer stated earlier this summer that they had no intentions of trading Diggs, the deal that Buffalo offered was too good to pass up.
Diggs has been labeled as one of the craftiest wide receivers in the league. He leaves some big shoes to fill in the Vikings offense come 2020. Last season, he hauled in 63 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Vikings in all three categories.
Although it might be difficult to replace the leading receiver from last season, the Vikings are in good shape moving forward. Here are three players currently on the roster that will help ease the transition away from the hero of the Minneapolis Miracle:
Adam Thielen
This may seem obvious, but it seems as if a lingering injury in 2019 has pushed Adam Thielen out of the top-ten category he was once in. This shouldn’t be the case, as Thielen played a critical role in the Wild Card win over the New Orleans Saints last season.
If he can stay healthy, it’s likely Thielen will outproduce his 30 catches for 418 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games last season. In 2018, Thielen hauled in 113 catches for 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns, while tying the record for most consecutive games with 100 yards receiving.
Thielen has been a go-to target for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins since he arrived in 2018 and that likely won’t change this season. He is one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league and he has constantly been productive when healthy. He will play a critical role in helping ease the transition for some of the younger players, including rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Justin Jefferson
Thielen has already been seen working out with Jefferson, a good sign for the Vikings, as the team tries to adjust amid the coronavirus pandemic. Although it’s not always easy for rookies to come into the league and produce at a high level, Jefferson has a good chance at being the Vikings second receiver from day one.
Jefferson is coming off a junior season where he caught 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 games. Those stats are some of the best at the position in this rookie class, but it’s not just the numbers that should have Vikings fans excited.
According to PlayerProfiler.com, Jefferson’s most comparable player is former Indianapolis Colts wideout Reggie Wayne. His 4.43 40-yard dash ranks in the 86th percentile, showing that he has near the top speed at his position.
Combining his on-field production with some of his analytical metrics suggest that he has the potential to become a star at the next level. He has plenty of bright light experience as well, helping LSU win the National Championship in 2019.
His route running jumps out on tape and it’s clear he puts in the work at his craft. The Vikings may have lost one of the craftiest receivers in the league, but they gained another route technician in return.
Irv Smith Jr.
The tight end position is a strong suit for the Vikings with the veteran presence of Kyle Rudolph still leading the way as one of the top red zone options. Although he is going to continue to be a sure-handed option for Cousins, Rudolph doesn’t have the athleticism to help replace some of the routes that Diggs ran.
Irv Smith Jr. is a much more athletic option for Cousins and can do a lot of damage between the 20-yard lines. He finished his rookie season off with 36 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. He has breakout potential for next season.
The Vikings haven’t had an athletically gifted tight end in years and that is exactly what the former Alabama star brings to the table. The NFL has shifted into a pass-happy league and the teams that do it the best seem to have an athletic tight end. Travis Kelce and George Kittle are two of the league’s best at the position and both of their teams played in the Super Bowl last season.
His stats aren’t flashy on paper. However, what Smith Jr. did in his rookie season has only been done five other times in NFL history.
It’s likely that his role will increase now that Diggs is no longer in the picture, and an increased role in the Vikings offense will have Smith Jr. poised for a breakout year in 2020.
In addition to the aforementioned three players being able to help with the Diggs departure, the Vikings still have one of the league’s most accurate quarterbacks under center. Cousins has proven to be the Vikings best quarterback in recent history and he’s shown no signs of slowing down during his two seasons with Minnesota.
Running back Dalvin Cook is a critical piece of the Vikings offense and his contract negotiations are something to keep an eye on as training camp gets closer. If the Vikings start the 2020 season with Cook in the backfield, they will have an offense that’s ready to do some serious damage this season.
