2026 Free Agency and Draft: WR/TE

MaroonBells wrote:
Probably little chance we can draft him since he'll likely go somewhere between our picks at 18 and 49, but Omar Cooper Jr is my first real draft crush of 2026. His body control and RAC is remarkable. I don't care what he measures; I don't care what he times; OCJ is going be a weapon in the NFL. 

Agreed 100%

I luv Sarrat too, very different players..

purplefaithful wrote:

Agreed 100%

I luv Sarrat too, very different players..

Quick, when was the last time an Indiana WR was taken in the 1st round? There's never been one. This year there might be two.

Seems Daniel Jeremiah reads Vikefans. :cool: In his latest Top 50, Omar Cooper Jr jumped from outside his top 50 to....19th!!?

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-50-2026-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-2-0

Before he tore his ACL, I thought Chris Bell was likely a first rounder. Bell seems to have been forgotten since his injury.

I assume we will lose Aaron Jones and Speedy Nailor in FA. We do not have an in-house replacement for Jones; we do for Speedy - Tai Felton. Depending on what we do in FA, our biggest needs at the moment are Safety, CB, and RB. If TJ leaves in FA or is cut, I would add TE as another position of need. Same if we lose Wilson: add ILB as a need. Next in line is probably Center. Most of the college Centers are a bit small. I would love to get Rutledge.

But I don't really see WR as a need now and do not want to draft one in the first 3 rounds. Absolutely take one later in the draft, but we have other issues to address early.

dadevike wrote:
Before he tore his ACL, I thought Chris Bell was likely a first rounder. Bell seems to have been forgotten since his injury.

I assume we will lose Aaron Jones and Speedy Nailor in FA. We do not have an in-house replacement for Jones; we do for Speedy - Tai Felton. Depending on what we do in FA, our biggest needs at the moment are Safety, CB, and RB. If TJ leaves in FA or is cut, I would add TE as another position of need. Same if we lose Wilson: add ILB as a need. Next in line is probably Center. Most of the college Centers are a bit small. I would love to get Rutledge.

But I don't really see WR as a need now and do not want to draft one in the first 3 rounds. Absolutely take one later in the draft, but we have other issues to address early.

It's not likely we draft a WR on either of the first two days, but it's possible, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Addison and Nailor. 

I think TE is a need only if we move on from Hockenson, and the more I think about that, the more I think we keep him. I'd put ILB on the needs list even if we resign Wilson. He turns 32 in September and the other guy, IPJ, is such a severe liability in coverage I'm not sure we can risk starting him anymore. I think a LB to play next to Cashman is among the considerations on the first two days. 

I might be OK going into the season with Brandel and Jurgens competing at center. In his last five starts at center, Brandel gave up no sacks and his PFF pass blocking grade over those five games never dipped below 70. Give him a training camp at center and we might have something.

MaroonBells wrote:

It's not likely we draft a WR on either of the first two days, but it's possible, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Addison and Nailor. 

I think TE is a need only if we move on from Hockenson, and the more I think about that, the more I think we keep him. I'd put ILB on the needs list even if we resign Wilson. He turns 32 in September and the other guy, IPJ, is such a severe liability in coverage I'm not sure we can risk starting him anymore. I think a LB to play next to Cashman is among the considerations on the first two days. 

I might be OK going into the season with Brandel and Jurgens competing at center. In his last five starts at center, Brandel gave up no sacks and his PFF pass blocking grade over those five games never dipped below 70. Give him a training camp at center and we might have something.

Whether the team prefers to keep Brandel in his OL6 role or will move him to center is one of the story lines to watch this offseason. Given the resources that they have allocated to the OL already, I don't see them signing one of the better FA centers or selecting one within the top 3 rounds. OTOH, Jurgens was less than impressive when he took center snaps last season.

Something to keep an eye on.

The Vikings spoke with Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II over the phone 👀

Vikings clearly doing a lot of work on WRs

Could Jordan Addison get traded? pic.twitter.com/GD9XTucd4P

— Patrick Siepman (@PatSieps) February 27, 2026

UGA has an interesting trio of receivers.
All 3 had great combines, according to analysts.

Zach Branch  5’9”  4.35 forty at combine.
Considered a gadget guy, but watch his highlights if you get the time.  He has a different top-end gear, jumps off the screen. 

Dillon Bell. 6’ 1” 4.5 forty.  Smoove.

Colbie Young 6’ 5” 4.4 forty (!) 

Branch has the most buzz/juice, but there’s love/hate on him as a NFL prospect.  

https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-wide-receivers-turn-heads-with-testing-drill-work-2026-nfl-combine/C2K5JD6DQJCZVHYAUCHQR5F734/#:~:text=2026%20NFL%20Combine-,Georgia%20wide%20receivers%20turn%20heads%20with%20testing%2C%20drill%20work%20at,(@MathBomb)%20February%2028%2C%202026

One thing that pizzes me off, that with all the talent that has matriculated thru UGA, we only saw fit to draft Lewis Cine(which I panned when we did), and Ingram-Dawkins (5th round success, on roster).  Do our scouts get south of Nashville? Too sophisticated for WaffleHouse?

Wouldn’t take him @ 18, but fun to watch. Anyone else see Percy Harvin? ;)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W8b9gobD2Gw&pp=0gcJCY4Bo7VqN5tD

6’5 “ Colbie young.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16fpHGu7rn/

StickierBuns wrote:
Tai Felton....yeeesh. You'd think if he had some juice they'd easily let Nailor go.

I don't think it's as simple as all that. Felton was a redshirt, so we know nothing about him yet. But I read something yesterday that said the Vikings "love" Jalen Nailor. Vikings can't lose both Nailor and Addison, and I don't think it's 100% Addison gets a 2nd contract. 

The offset timing of these two decisions is what makes it complicated. Vikings don't have to make a decision on Addison for another year. They have to make a decision on Nailor in a few days. If they let him go, then watch Addison get arrested again, we're screwed. 

But how do you convince a guy to stay on a team with question marks at QB, and who's almost certainly going to get WR2 opportunities and the money that goes with it? That's really hard to see.

#Vikings WR Jalen Nailor is expected to have a robust market, with more than 10 teams expected to show interest in him, @alec_lewis wrote via @TheAthletic. Minnesota doesn’t want to lose Nailor, but he may be able to earn a bigger deal elsewhere.

“He could be in line for a… pic.twitter.com/BCfOJUXEJK

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) March 3, 2026

I think Nailor is gone....Too many options it seems

You know Makai Lemon is going to be there at 18 is my prediction. But they better go D lol!

StickierBuns wrote:
I'll say it again: I wonder what the organization thinks of Tai Felton?

I have to think that McCardell was consulted & approved the Felton pick. I admit that I didn't like Felton's game at Maryland, but if McCardell wanted him then I'm okay with it.

This is the best WR in the draft IMO. How far could he fall? 

It’s been 3 months 21 days since Jordyn Tyson last played a game.
According to Dane Brugler, he won’t participate at his Pro Day.
Also sounds like his hamstring may have flared up during his training.

That is quite some time for a grade 2 strain to heal…. pic.twitter.com/h2dHSTJOdO

— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) March 21, 2026

Vikings have to make a decision on Jordan Addison's fifth year option (2027) in less than two months, May 1 2026.

Addison will be due $18m, fully guaranteed, if the fifth year option is picked up. His cap number for this year is $4.37m. If the Vikings decide to not pick up the fifth year option, Addison will be a free agent after the 2026 season.

"It would behoove the Vikings to give Addison that fifth-year option, as his talent level is closer to the likes of DeVonta Smith at $25 million per season (APY)."  
https://atozsports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-news/minnesota-vikings-jordan-addison-fifth-year-option-cost-revealed/ 

Even at $18m Addison is a deal. Everything that I've read is that the Vikings are planning to pick up the fifth year option on Addison.

StickierBuns wrote:

I think this is definitely happening. Minnesota still has a shot to move him come Draft day if they are so inclined as that'll be before May 1st, but I think the plan is to pick up the option. Its possible that they use him in some kind of comp deal to move up for Jeremiah Love, but probably very doubtful. That last part is just speculation from me, haven't read one thing to support that conjecture.

I think the last thing the Vikings should (or will) do is trade Addison after working so hard to establish a qualified and deep QB room. Even if we exercise his 5th year option, that only guarantees the $18M in the 5th year. It doesn't increase what we're paying him now, which is peanuts.

6-4, 206, 4.42 forty. Hurst is obviously not Randy Moss, but when I first watched him run, that's who I immediately thought of. 

The Vikings have a top 30 visit scheduled with WR Ted Hurst https://t.co/GOWbh9eX53

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) March 27, 2026

MaroonBells wrote:
6-4, 206, 4.42 forty. Hurst is obviously not Randy Moss, but when I first watched him run, that's who I immediately thought of. 

The Vikings have a top 30 visit scheduled with WR Ted Hurst https://t.co/GOWbh9eX53

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) March 27, 2026

I see a target for one of our 3rd rounders... especially if we trade down in the first and get another day 2 pick as a result.  I really like the potential there,  he could use a few cheeseburgers,  but he highpoints the ball, routinely catches with his hands away from his body and positions his body to shield the defender on contested throws.  apparently his drop rate is concern and his slight build makes his separation an issue against more physical DBs in press.

Very similar measurables to Colbie Young, UGA.
Except Young is slightly taller, heavier, faster.

Production goes to Hurst, as Young & UGA had more off. Weapons and tougher competition.
I could go with Hurst, tho.

With Jefferson, Addison and Felton.... I'd rather get a smaller, uber quick WR that works closer to the LOS,
Middle of the field. Like Z Branch, or similar, as Branch will go top 2 rounds.

JimmyinSD wrote:

I see a target for one of our 3rd rounders... especially if we trade down in the first and get another day 2 pick as a result.  I really like the potential there,  he could use a few cheeseburgers,  but he highpoints the ball, routinely catches with his hands away from his body and positions his body to shield the defender on contested throws.  apparently his drop rate is concern and his slight build makes his separation an issue against more physical DBs in press.

I think you're right that he'll go in the late 3rd. Just not sure I'm willing to take a WR that high. We definitely need someone to compete with Felton for the WR3 position, but I think we can probably find that on day three.