The Minnesota Vikings’ roster is in pretty fantastic shape after March’s busy free agency period, and the NFL draft is 17 days away.
Vikings HC Predicts “Massive Year” for One Player
Minnesota’s draft might be defensive, and the theory checks out, especially after head coach Kevin O’Connell showered his WR3 with praise last week. According to O’Connell, Jalen Nailor is on deck for a “massive” year 2025.
Kevin O’Connell Heaps Praise on Jalen Nailor
Tucked in an article about the Vikings’ offseason, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert detailed Minnesota’s high expectations for Nailor.
“I think we basically went through that last year with Jordan missing games. We essentially, for two and a half games, didn’t have him, and we were able to beat the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans with Jalen Nailor playing huge roles in those games,” O’Connell said.
“I think this is a massive, massive year for his career.”
And that’s about as straightforward as it gets in offseason speak. What’s more, the Vikings brass has a unique trait where they basically tell the truth about their intentions and don’t often exaggerate or use misdirection — otherwise common in sports.
If O’Connell is willing to compliment Nailor and forecast a larger role for the speedster, he means it.
Nailor’s 2024 Campaign
Nailor performed hot and cold in 2024, his first as Minnesota’s unabashed WR3. He totaled 414 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, along with 28 receptions and 14.8 yards per reception. Nailor played all 17 games — a ginormous step for him because injuries plagued his 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
But let’s face it: Aside from 6 touchdowns, 414 receiving yards is a pretty wimpy WR3 tabulation, especially when the team’s TE1, T.J. Hockenson, missed seven games to start the season.
With O’Connell’s endorsement, Nailor’s WR3 output must climb to 650+ yards. Otherwise, he’s a poor man’s third wide receiver.
A Draft Need All but Ruled Out
O’Connell’s encouraging prophecy also whisked some draft prognostication to the forefront. If his ball club is enamored with Nailor — it sure sounds like it — general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah probably won’t invest high-round draft capital in a wide receiver.
For instance, at pick No. 24, the Vikings’ spot, or even with a trade back, wide receivers like Luther Burden III (Missouri), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), or Matthew Golden (Texas) could be available.
Pounding the table for Nailor would seem to rule out those names as 1st- or 2nd-Round prospects. Other nifty rookies like Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins or Elic Ayomanor from Stanford could also be off Minnesota’s draft radar.
Thankfully, not many have wide receiver as a tremendous roster need, but Nailor’s massive year prediction should cancel any fringe WR theories.
What Is a “Massive” Year?
A truly massive year would likely have Nailor approaching 1,000 receiving yards or something close. Onlookers would not consider 600 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns from Nailor very “massive,” so O’Connell must have a trick up his sleeve for the 26-year-old in 2025.
Perhaps Nailor can cross the 800-yard mark with more consistency, which didn’t necessarily shine through in 2024.
All on the Line for Nailor
It’s worth nothing that “this is it” for Nailor and his rookie contract with the Vikings.
He’s a member of the now notorious 2022 draft class, one of the last possible methods for Adofo-Mensah to save face. The rest of the class floundered — and then some. Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, and Ed Ingram can attest.
Nailor enters a contract year, one that just so happens to have his head coach gassing him up about five months before Week 1.
Don’t Forget Rondale Moore
Last month, Minnesota signed Rondale Moore from free agency, a speedy wideout who could, in theory, cut into Nailor’s target load or even swipe his job.
Wide receiver Brandon Powell has not re-signed in Minnesota, making Moore’s role on the team more in line with a WR4. Still, when the Arizona Cardinals drafted Moore from Round 2 four years ago, draft heads had big plans for the speed merchant.
There’s a slim chance that Moore thrives in 2025, dampening the WR3 forecast for Nailor.
