Are the Vikings looking to bring in a receiver in next week’s draft?
Receiver isn’t necessarily a position of need for the Vikings, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that Minnesota is at least doing its homework on mid-round talent at the position. According to Garafolo, the Vikings held a private workout with Washington receiver Jalen McMillan.
#Washington WR Jalen McMillan visits the #Bengals today, wrapping up a slate of visits that’s included the #Chiefs, #AZCardinals, #Jaguars, #Panthers and #Dolphins. McMillan, a projected Day 2 #NFLDraft pick, also had private workouts with the #Bills and #Vikings. pic.twitter.com/taXDrSMMRh
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 17, 2024
The 6-foot-1, 197-pounder is considered a third- or fourth-round pick by many draft analysts, though Garafolo referred to him as a possible Day 2 pick. The Mock Draft Database Consensus Big Board has McMillan as the No. 85 overall prospect, which would put him in the third round.
Minnesota doesn’t have a second- or third-round pick this year.
McMillan caught 45 passes for 559 yards and five touchdowns for the Huskies in 2023, bringing his four-year college total to 164 receptions for 2,143 yards and 17 touchdowns.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein describes McMillan as a “slot target with good size and production over the last two seasons.”
“McMillan is a long-striding field-stretcher who is at his best with momentum routes in a West Coast passing scheme,” Zierlein continues. “He lacks aggression and play strength and could labor against press or when faced with contested catches. McMillan has adequate build-up speed to create opportunities down the field but needs the ball on target.”
The Vikings already have a plethora of receiving talent in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, although Hockenson might be out for the first several weeks of the season due to a knee injury late last season. Minnesota saw K.J. Osborn exit in free agency this offseason, opening a hole at WR3 on the roster.
McMillan ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, which was slightly faster than Jordan Addison’s 4.49 40-time last year.
“McMillan will need to prove he can handle the physicality of playing inside at the next level, but he has three -level potential as a pass catcher and will be an intriguing option for a team that prioritizes length and speed from the slot.” says The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler. “Stylistically, his game reminds me of a juiced-up Jakobi Meyers.”
Minnesota could have trouble landing McMillan as they currently don’t have a Day 2 pick after trading their second-round pick to Houston in mid-March for the No. 23 overall pick, and parting with their third-round pick as part of the deal to acquire Hockenson.
Minnesota’s draft picks
- First-round – No. 11 & No. 23
- Fourth-round – No. 108 & No. 129
- Fifth-round – No. 157 & No. 167
- Sixth-round – No. 177
- Seventh-round – No. 230 & No. 232
