The Vikings will likely draft a wide receiver, but who?

[Mothman]

According to this PP article, this draft might be deeper at WR than some think:

The Vikings will likely draft a wide receiver, but who?

There aren’t a lot of very highly rated receiver prospects available for the April 28-30 draft, but there is much depth. If the Vikings don’t take a receiver with their No. 23 pick in the first round, they still could find a good one with their No. 54 pick in the second round, No. 86 selection in the third round or by making a trade for another pick during the first two days of the draft.

“This is a good year to need a wide receiver,’’ said NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler. “In the second or third round, there’s good depth. A lot of good wide receivers will be drafted on Day 2 this year (during rounds two and three). The Vikings aren’t hard-pressed to have to take a wide receiver in the first round, but I think they will take one during the first two days.’’

... and what article about Vikings WRs would be complete without a line like this:

Even more disappointing was Patterson. After showing promise as a rookie in 2013 with 45 catches, he slumped to 33 in 2014 and barely saw the field last season on offense, catching just two passes.

Play him!

[losperros]

I really hope the Vikings draft a WR in round 3 or later. There are other concerns on the team that should be on the front burner.

My position on Patterson remains the same. There is no excuse to keep a playmaker on the bench. Frazier and Musgrave got big plays from Patterson but apparently Zimmer and Turner can't. And enough about the route tree myth. Patterson ran routes successfully as a rookie and he can do it again. Play him or trade him (or cut him). Problem solved.

[Texas Vike]

I really hope the Vikings draft a WR in round 3 or later. There are other concerns on the team that should be on the front burner.

My position on Patterson remains the same. There is no excuse to keep a playmaker on the bench. Frazier and Musgrave got big plays from Patterson but apparently Zimmer and Turner can't. And enough about the route tree myth. Patterson ran routes successfully as a rookie and he can do it again. Play him or trade him (or cut him). Problem solved.

Patterson is this team's #1 enigma. Given what we know, my theory is that the coaches do not trust his knowledge of the offense. That's the only way I can explain why they DO NOT trade him. They must think that he still has some promise to eventually "get it". Either that or they simply have not received an offer that is worthwhile. It may be the case that Spielman's ego is involved and that since he traded so much to get him, he's having a hard time letting him go for what his market value says he is worth now.

Unlike you, (losperros) I think I'd like a WR as one of our first 3 round picks. IMO, it is an important enough of a position to warrant that. I'd be happy with Treadwell or Doctson in the first. I need to investigate the WRs projected for round 2-4. Listenbee is a really fast WR from TCU that I like, but he was never as dangerous or dynamic as Doctson.

[Mothman]

Patterson is this team's #1 enigma. Given what we know, my theory is that the coaches do not trust his knowledge of the offense. That's the only way I can explain why they DO NOT trade him. They must think that he still has some promise to eventually "get it". Either that or they simply have not received an offer that is worthwhile. It may be the case that Spielman's ego is involved and that since he traded so much to get him, he's having a hard time letting him go for what his market value says he is worth now.

By relegating him to the bottom of their depth chart, the Vikes have probably killed his market value and they may just be hanging onto him because, under his current contract, his value as one of the league's most dangerous kick returners outweighs his trade value.

We've covered the subject from top to bottom here and I agree that a lack of trust from the coaching staff is the most logical explanation for what's happened with Patterson.

Unlike you, (losperros) I think I'd like a WR as one of our first 3 round picks. IMO, it is an important enough of a position to warrant that. I'd be happy with Treadwell or Doctson in the first. I need to investigate the WRs projected for round 2-4. Listenbee is a really fast WR from TCU that I like, but he was never as dangerous or dynamic as Doctson.

As the article points out, there's some good WR talent beyond the first round of this draft. I'm hoping the Vikes draft at least one offensive linemen in the first two rounds but I doubt that's how they'll handle this draft. I don't have a problem with them drafting a WR early. After all, a top 4 of Diggs, Johnson, Wright and Thielen isn't going to scare anybody, even though they're not bad players. It seems a shame to have to invest another high pick in a receiver when the potential of their last first round pick at the position has gone largely unexplored by this coaching staff but that appears to be the writing on the wall.

[jackal]

I would rather see address OL
and secondary then reach for
a wideout in the first maybe
even second. Mike Mayock says
this draft is not highly talented
at wide out.

[DK Sweets]

For the love of God, please not another Patterson discussion. We know how each member feels about him at this point.

[Mothman]

For the love of God, please not another Patterson discussion. We know how each member feels about him at this point.

This thread is about the draft and the WRs on the roster, which include Patterson. Instead of complaining because you don't want another discussion about him (which, in a sense, just extends that discussion) do something about it, DK. The rest of us aren't here to make sure a few people remain engaged or entertained. if you don't want to read about Patterson, create another topic or make a contribution to this thread that steers the discussion in another direction. There's a draft board full of potential WR prospects to discuss. You could talk about Diggs, Thielen, Wright, Johnson, or any other aspect of the receiving corps too so instead of complaining, contribute.

[fiestavike]

For the love of God, please not another Patterson discussion. We know how each member feels about him at this point.

I'm with you! And I've been in the center of several of those conversations! They are completely futile.

[fiestavike]

According to this PP article, this draft might be deeper at WR than some think:

The Vikings will likely draft a wide receiver, but who?
... and what article about Vikings WRs would be complete without a line like this:
Play him!

Of the top tier guys it seems like Doctson, Thomas, and Treadwell could all fit the mold. I know there are some other big WRs who might be available later, Cajuste, Duarte, and whole bunch of other guys projected in the 4-5 rd who are bigger bodies. The second tier guys might not be great fits in the sense that they are either smaller targets or very unpolished for the most part (coleman, cooper, shepard, miller). Between Tier 1 and what I will call Tier 3 (second tier of big bodied guys) I would love to know how much fall off most scouts perceive.

[Mothman]

I'm with you! And I've been in the center of several of those conversations! They are completely futile.

Then don't participate.

Every person who contributed to this thread other than you and DK posted about something other than Patterson, even if they also mentioned him. If you two have something of value to contribute to the thread, you could follow up on one of those comments or add something new but please don't keep complaining because a player you're tired of hearing about was mentioned in a few posts. Patterson's a Viking WR and fair game for discussion in a thread about the Vikings WR situation. The rest of us aren't here to entertain and delight you or to cater to your preference of subjects.

[Mothman]

Of the top tier guys it seems like Doctson, Thomas, and Treadwell could all fit the mold. I know there are some other big WRs who might be available later, Cajuste, Duarte, and whole bunch of other guys projected in the 4-5 rd who are bigger bodies. The second tier guys might not be great fits in the sense that they are either smaller targets or very unpolished for the most part (coleman, cooper, shepard, miller). Between Tier 1 and what I will call Tier 3 (second tier of big bodied guys) I would love to know how much fall off most scouts perceive.

That's more like it.

I'd like to know how the scouts perceive that "fall off" too because there doesn't exactly seem to be agreement about it. It looks to me like there's some good WR talent at the top and in the middle of this draft. for example, Rashard Higgins is an intriguing player:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... rd-higgins

[mondry]

Hopefully a Diggs like player stands out in the 3rd / 4th / 5th round, I think that'd be the ideal spot for us to get a WR. I wonder if we couldn't trade up from our 2nd to get doctson if he slides a little bit?

[DK Sweets]

I believe Jim is having a bad day.

[fiestavike]

I believe Jim is having a bad day.

For the love of God, please not another Jim discussion. We know how each member feels about him at this point.

[Mothman]

I believe Jim is having a bad day.

You guys just managed to stumble on one of my VMB pet peeves. I still love ya though!

For the love of God, please not another Jim discussion. We know how each member feels about him at this point.

... and the news isn't good!

Okay, now let's focus on those wide receivers...