The Minnesota Vikings are far from a complete team. They have holes across the roster, especially when you look at their depth players. Most of the Vikings' depth has players on rookie contracts in those spots.
When identifying the Vikings' biggest need, the defensive line seems rather obvious. That is not the approach that ESPN's Aaron Schatz took, where in his piece identifying the biggest need for every team, he said the Vikings' biggest need was at slot receiver.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are an awesome team on the outside, but the Vikings' receiving corps really falls off after those two. Brandon Powell is likely the starting slot receiver. He did manage an average DVOA on 44 targets in 2023, but his 324 receiving yards represented a career high after six years in the league. Trent Sherfield caught just 11 passes in Buffalo last season. Jalen Nailor has just 12 catches in two years for Minnesota. There are a lot of unknown names on this depth chart, and the Vikings would be the perfect team to give a call to an unsigned free agent.
Sure, slot receiver is a need and the Vikings would be smart to try and find an upgrade for 2024. I had wide receiver as the third biggest need for them.
However, they have the weakest defensive line in the National Football League and overlooking that for a slot receiver is irresponsible. Interior defensive line is becoming a premium position in the NFL and you can point to the contracts that have been given out lately to prove it. Plus, slot receivers are not inherently valuable when you factor in the trenches or that they would be at best option three for the quarterback behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Plus, they would be behind T.J. Hockenson when he eventually returns.
Sometimes, there is just a pure misunderstanding of where a team is currently at and this is one of those times.
