Can Laquon Treadwell Make the Leap?

I would be happy with a 500 yard season.  He won't get more with Diggs and Theilen in front of him. 

Agree a 500 yard season would be nice.  That would be about 50 catches.  I'm not so sure their will be enough pass plays to go around for him to get 50 catches but I guess it is possible as teams double up on undrafted Adam and 5th rounder Diggs.   

Then he will be a 23 year old free agent and too expensive to 5th year option.  Good problem to have but probably last year as a Viking.  

I'm going to say no. There's no way he gets enough touches unless we have a a few key injuries. Who I will leave unnamed as to not jinx anybody or we're screwed. He will not ever live up to the 1st round billing. Think 30-35 catches maybe 350 yards is about it. Normally you would say that's ok for your 4th WR. Unless he was a 1st round pick. That would be more then he got in his 1st 2 years combined. I wished was different. Seems like a wasted pick. We thought we needed a WR in the draft in 2016 only to find out we had 2 and he never developed. Should have drafted a Olineman. Easy to say now.

Well, I never want one of these kids to fail. But I'm not sure I care anymore to be honest. Easy to forget about him with Diggs and Thielen as starters. 

Then I remind myself it's a long season, Diggs can't stay healthy and you cant flood the field with too many good skill players with how good NFL D's are. 

I think this is his last year in Minnesota.

So far he is holding off Wright from the #3 WR slot...I'm HOPING he makes the jump, but I'm not counting on it...

@"BarrNone55" said: So far he is holding off Wright from the #3 WR slot...I'm HOPING he makes the jump, but I'm not counting on it...

I got to wonder. Is he holding off Wright or are they? I think when you draft a guy in the 1st you try that much harder to make it work. However once the minutes start really counting then it's about best player not favored. If he's #3 when the season starts he held off Wright.

@"StickyBun" said: I think this is his last year in Minnesota.

Yep. Sad but true. Seen this too many times now. 1st round WR pick not living up to receiving a 2nd contract. We should just load up on 4th - UDFA's every year. We have better luck there now.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: So far he is holding off Wright from the #3 WR slot...I'm HOPING he makes the jump, but I'm not counting on it...

I got to wonder. Is he holding off Wright or are they? I think when you draft a guy in the 1st you try that much harder to make it work. However once the minutes start really counting then it's about best player not favored. If he's #3 when the season starts he held off Wright.

@"BarrNone55" said:

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: So far he is holding off Wright from the #3 WR slot...I'm HOPING he makes the jump, but I'm not counting on it...

I got to wonder. Is he holding off Wright or are they? I think when you draft a guy in the 1st you try that much harder to make it work. However once the minutes start really counting then it's about best player not favored. If he's #3 when the season starts he held off Wright.

Considering how much we run, I'd say he's legitimately in front of Wright...kid can block...

So, where on the sun coast are you?

With a new offense, new coordinator and a new Qb this is a lucky chance for him to get a fresh look, a second chance to become a reliable part of the offense.  Its up to him.

@"Poiple" said: With a new offense, new coordinator and a new Qb this is a lucky chance for him to get a fresh look, a second chance to become a reliable part of the offense.  Its up to him.

You're right it is up to him. However saying we have a new OC, QB and offense pretty much describes every season since he's been here.

I don't think his success this year will be stat dependent.  What I'm looking for is can he exploit his mismatch against lesser corners and make clutch 3rd down plays.  Does he take advantage of his opportunities when he gets them?  I just want to know that he's competent if Diggs goes down.

@"medaille" said: I don't think his success this year will be stat dependent.  What I'm looking for is can he exploit his mismatch against lesser corners and make clutch 3rd down plays.  Does he take advantage of his opportunities when he gets them?  I just want to know that he's competent if Diggs goes down.

Agreed, move the chains and be more of a Red Zone presence and I'd be happy.

I think Cousins is exactly the type of QB that can bring out talent in Treadwell.  He doesnt seem to favor any 1 or 2 targets, spreads the ball around quite a bit,  is a bit more of a gunslinger,  he is not afraid to thread the needle and to throw at a covered guy who has a mismatch that he should win.  Sam was all about protecting the ball and Case was very similar in how they shied away from throwing if a defender was in the vicinity. 

@"StickyBun" said: I think this is his last year in Minnesota.

We have probably discussed before, but I disagree. Unless Treadwell is totally useless - and he isn't; 20 catches and useful blocking has some value - he'll play out the 4 years of his contract. We will keep 5 or 6 WRs and I don't see more than 4 (Thielen, Diggs, Wright, maybe Coley) who are better.

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"StickyBun" said: I think this is his last year in Minnesota.

Yep. Sad but true. Seen this too many times now. 1st round WR pick not living up to receiving a 2nd contract. We should just load up on 4th - UDFA's every year. We have better luck there now.

No - we should load up on better scouts. We only have "better" luck beyond round 3 because we have more darts to throw. Our record with day 3 and beyond is actually pretty poor - just Diggs and Thielen out of dozens of strikeouts.

There are UDFAs that I'd like to see have a shot....Zylstra, Wieneke, Caleb Jones, and Robertson...but most of all I'm hoping that Stacy Coley gets his chance to shine and grabs it.

@"prairieghost" said: There are UDFAs that I'd like to see have a shot....Zylstra, Wieneke, Caleb Jones, and Robertson...but most of all I'm hoping that Stacy Coley gets his chance to shine and grabs it.

they will get a shot, but lets be honest,  we are undervaluing the talent required because of our history of failed first round receivers and the recent success of Theilen and Diggs,  but Diggs would have never been available that far down the list if he hadnt stayed in Maryland for family reasons and hadnt gotten seriously injured his last year there.  And Theilen is just a nice story of hard work and blooming at the right time.  These other guys have a huge battle ahead of them to displace Treadwell if he is playing even as good as he did last year.  There is a reason that Treadwell was what he was in college and these other guys werent.  No offense to them,  but I think there is a significant gap between what they are and what Treadwell should be able to be.

@"prairieghost" said: There are UDFAs that I'd like to see have a shot....Zylstra, Wieneke, Caleb Jones, and Robertson...but most of all I'm hoping that Stacy Coley gets his chance to shine and grabs it.

I believe Mr Jones has a 4 game ped suspension along w/ Mr Brothers, unfortuneately.  :#

edit: yes he is...
NFL players facing suspensions to begin the 2018 seasonhttps://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/ContentGallery/NFL-players-facing-suspensions-to-begin-the-2018-season-118877687

@"Kentis" said:

@"prairieghost" said: There are UDFAs that I'd like to see have a shot....Zylstra, Wieneke, Caleb Jones, and Robertson...but most of all I'm hoping that Stacy Coley gets his chance to shine and grabs it.

I believe Mr Jones has a 4 game ped suspension along w/ Mr Brothers, unfortuneately.  :#