On the roster
The Vikings have been waiting for an elite downfield receiver for years. How long? Consider that Sidney Rice was the last 1,000-yard receiver for Minnesota in 2009. In fact, Rice has posted the only 1,000-yard receiving season for the Vikings in the last 10 years. Since Randy Moss posted 111 catches for 1,632 yards in 2003, Nate Burleson is the only other player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the Vikings.
Enter Mike Wallace.
Minnesota traded for Wallace, the former 1,000-yard receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a true downfield threat who has averaged 15.6 yards per catch in his career. The Vikings released Greg Jennings, who led the team with 59 catches and 742 receiving yards last season. Wallace, 28, is younger and a better fit in Minnesota's offense than Jennings.
But Wallace has missed the 1,000-yard threshold the past three seasons himself. Like the previous Vikings receivers, Wallace's production comes with the caveat of inconsistent quarterback play. Rice's big season in 2009 came with Brett Favre at quarterback.
Minnesota has come a long ways at the position and might have more talent and depth than it's had since Moss' first go-round ended in 2004. Charles Johnson emerged as the team's top receiver at the end of last season and finished with 31 catches for 475 yards. Wallace is signed through 2017 and Johnson is under contract for two more seasons.
Jarius Wright has been a productive player when given the chance. Wright had 42 catches for 588 yards last season and is a quality No. 3 option. The Vikings can feel good about their top three receivers and Cordarrelle Patterson's name hasn't been mentioned yet.
Patterson has the talent to be the team's best receiver. But Minnesota can't enter 2015 sure of what it will get from the former first-round pick. Patterson was expected to take a big step last year and slipped precipitously. By the end of the season, he had slipped to the end of the depth chart and fallen behind Adam Thielen, who is back as well.
Last five wide receivers drafted
Philosophy at the position
Despite the improvements made at receiver (and belief they finally have a stable quarterback), don't be surprised if the Vikings attack the position aggressively in the draft. A long-term need meets strength in the draft. Minnesota could be in position to finally secure an elite talent at the position who can grow along with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Receiver is perhaps the deepest position in the draft, as well. There are a few potential options at No. 11 where the Vikings select in the first round. Starters can be found on Day 2 and there's potential later. Even making the move for Wallace, Minnesota can add more talent at receiver and feature a dangerous offense with Bridgewater to go with an improving defense.
Not to mention, Wallace will be 29 before next season begins. He will also count $11.5 million against the Vikings' salary cap if he's on the team in 2016 and 2017.
An experienced senior, Parker made 25 starts in 42 collegiate games. He was limited to six games last year because of a foot injury and still had 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns. As a junior -- with Bridgewater at quarterback -- Parker had 55 catches for 885 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games.
Parker has the size NFL teams covet and is a good athlete with long arms. Parker is quick and can match speed-wise with other receivers his size, but he's more of a taller, physical receiver. He has good hands and uses his height and long arms to his advantage.
Green-Beckham didn't play last year after transferring to Oklahoma. He was dismissed from Missouri and has had multiple legal issues, including drug-related troubles. The concerns would likely lead Green-Beckham to being a third-day flyer. But many draft analysts believe he will still be drafted on Day 2.
He's drawn comparisons to Cleveland's Josh Gordon, both because of the ability and off-the-field trouble. Green-Beckham is a huge target but he's also fast and has good leaping ability. He has good hands and is a good runner after the catch. In his one college season as a starter, at Missouri in 2013, Green-Beckham had 59 catches for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games.
He's a big target and plays to it. Mayle is a former basketball player and only played two seasons at Washington State. He's still developing, but he had school records with 106 catches and 1,483 receiving yards in Washington State's high-octane passing offense last year. He transferred to Washington State after playing football and basketball in junior college.
The athletic traits will lead a team to take the chance on the inexperience. The size translates and he has good speed.
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