Vikings Named ‘Draft Fit’ for Senior Bowl Standout With NFL Bloodline
The Minnesota Vikings boast one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL with Justin Jefferson and the emerging Jordan Addison, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2023 draft. They also have T.J. Hockenson, one of the game’s best tight ends when healthy.
That does not mean they couldn’t use even more support for Kirk Cousins or whoever is under center in Week 1. Especially with Hockenson potentially missing the start of the season.
That doesn’t mean they couldn’t involve significantly more help for Kirk Cousins or whoever is under focus in Week 1. especially with the possibility that Hockenson will miss the start of the season.
This seven day stretch of Senior Bowl practices might have revealed the ideal choice.
“Rice wide beneficiary Luke McCaffrey set forth a strong appearance at the current year’s Senior Bowl,” Draft Organization’s Justin Melo composed on February 2. ” McCaffrey is a major bodied, extreme beneficiary with the short-region speed and speed increase important to turn into a dependable space recipient in the NFL.
“McCaffrey would be a superb supplement to Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Jordan Addison in Minnesota.”
Melo praised the Rice star, writing, “McCaffrey is a big-bodied, tough receiver with the short-area quickness and acceleration necessary to become a reliable slot receiver in the NFL.” McCaffrey’s inside-outside flexibility, matched with his work and size as a blocker, could rapidly get him on the field.”
Estimating in at 6-foot-1, 200 or more pounds, McCaffrey is in his second season as a wide beneficiary. In his first season with the Owls, he played quarterback for the Cornhuskers.
He caught 71 passes last season for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He likewise comes from a football family, including two NFL players, with sibling Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers driving the NFL in surging this previous season. Ed McCaffrey, his father, was a professional athlete for 13 years, spending one with the 49ers and nine with the Denver Broncos.
McCaffrey may be deserving of consideration on his own. However, the Vikings’ decision to sign him—or any receiver—could be based on necessity.
Investigator ‘Anticipates that’ Vikings should Lose WR Couple.
Melo anticipates that the Vikings should lose reinforcement wideouts Brandon Powell and K.J. Osborn, possibly pushing them to draft a substitution. The last option was drifted as a possibility for the Cleveland Browns in free office by Genius Football Spotlight’s Brad Spielberger on January 31.
Despite working with four different quarterbacks, Osborn had 48 receptions, 540 yards, and three touchdowns by the end of the season.
Powell had a 30-192-3 line on 44 targets.
That is a sizeable measure of creation between the two. Hockenson’s recuperation possibly seeping into next season puts an extra weight on every other person. McCaffrey might be a good value replacement for one or both players.
Keith Sanchez of Draft Network predicts that McCaffrey will be selected on Day 3. In his draft profile on January 23, Sanchez mentions that McCaffrey may be a “scheme specific contributor” in the NFL.
The Vikings and Justin Jefferson have expressed optimism regarding a potential contract extension, but nothing has transpired. The situation with Justin Jefferson’s contract could have an effect on the draft plans of the Vikings. While McCaffrey wouldn’t be an immediate substitution, having more pass catchers in the pipeline would be gainful.
McCaffrey would also be a bigger target for the pass-catching corps if Jefferson returns, which seems likely.
The Vikings have eight picks in the 2024 draft, remembering six for Day 3.
