Adding a receiver can be appealing to Vikings

This is the fifth in a series of preview positions for the 2022 NFL Draft, which runs from Thursday to Saturday. Today: wide receivers.

THREE NAMES YOU NEED TO KNOW

Drake London, USC: The 6-foot-4 receiver could be the first raidout drafted, even though he only played eight games in 2021 due to a broken ankle. Preliminary questions about his speed and how the injury could affect her may give the Vikings a recollection Laquon Treadwell in 2016, and London passed the routes only on its professional day on April 15, deciding not to conduct traditional tests such as the 40-yard jerk or the three-cone simulators. But his size and ability to run the route make him one of the best prospects in this class of draft.

Gareth Wilson, Ohio: He could play outdoors or in a slot where his mobility could help him shine in the NFL. Last season, Wilson averaged 15.1 yards per catch and made 12 touchdowns, mostly lined up in width, but he posted an average of 16.8 yards, playing mostly in the 2020 slot. He will need to learn to cope with NFL press coverage, but his ability to get away from defenders needs to be well-publicized.

Jameson Williams, Alabama: Williams broke the ACL in a national championship game in January, and might have been the best host in the draft had it not been for an injury. But he can still be a choice in the first round if teams feel comfortable enough with his progress in rehab to lift him high. He may be the best deep threat in the class, even though he is 6 feet tall. He will need to add some muscle to the NFL and prove that it was not an annual case after moving from Ohio to Alabama, but his combination of height and speed is rare.

ONE SLEEPER

Christian Watson, North Dakota: The performance of the Watson combine – a 4.36-second run of 40 yards, a 38.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-4 jump in width that led all receivers – could help increase its stock, though it will still have to reassure concerns before the call-up about his frequent falls in college. However, Watson could be the second-day choice from a team that wants to immediately hook him up as a serious threat.

The story continues

VICING POINT

Justin Jefferson enters its third season after two record years, and the Vikings will bring Adam Tylen return at least for the 2022 season signing a contract with him this spring. The emergence of K.J. Osborne in 2021 is helping the Vikings delve deeper into position, and the Vikings could still wait to see Ihmir Smith-Marsett turns into a productive option in the second year.

LEVEL OF VICS NEED

Moderate: when Tilen turns 32 this summer and gets a $ 19.97 million license in 2023, the Vikings could start thinking about the future in that position, especially if Jefferson is in line to sign a contract in the best market in the next few years. While this draft may not have a broad solution in the top 10, it offers the Vikings enough depth to think about using one of their first three picks on a receiver that could run in rotation this year and evolve along with Jefferson in the future.