Minnesota lost its 2019 leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, in a trade to the Bills.
The Vikings used one of the picks they received from the Bills to draft a wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, in the first round.
Jefferson’s success in his first NFL season is crucial to the Vikings having success as an offense.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah even thinks Jefferson could be an upgrade, saying that “when you look at Justin Jefferson, he gives you a little more size. He’s going to win right now in the slot.”
However, Jefferson doesn’t have to be an upgrade. He doesn’t even have to be on-par with Diggs. All he needs to do is be a competent wide receiver two, in order for the offense to have success.
That’s because Adam Thielen is still on the team. Thielen is coming off a 2019 where he dealt with a hamstring injury. He missed six regular season games and was targeted just 48 times. Despite that, he finished with 418 yards receiving in 2019.
If Thielen is back to his usual self, like when he led Minnesota in receiving from 2016-2018, then the passing game can possibly avoid regression.
Besides Thielen and Jefferson, Minnesota also has a committee of wideouts who can possibly step into bigger roles than they’re used to seeing, which makes the question of Jefferson replacing Diggs a little easier to answer.
Don’t get me wrong. Jefferson still probably needs to have a good rookie year, in order for the offense to not drop off slightly. But he doesn’t have to put up the numbers that Diggs did in 2019. Diggs had 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdown catches this past season for the Vikings.
If Thielen can raise his numbers to around there, Jefferson doesn’t have to go for 1,000 yards. He can make plays in the slot and take pressure off Thielen. He’s not Diggs, but for the Vikings, he’s good enough.