Receivers and Tight ends

Last year the Vikings fielded one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

They struggled to get open all year and provided small passing windows. The lone bright spot was Percy Harvin who solidified himself as an upper echelon talent. The passing game woes had to be addressed this offseason. With two new free agent additions and two draft picks Speilman took a step in the right direction.

12 Harvin, Percy WR 5-11 184 23

Last year Harvin Took a huge step forward in his development. Over the last half of his season he had Pro bowl type receiving figures included a Vikings season high 156 yds. and 2 tds. He is tough smart fast and ultra-competitive and will soon be one of the leagues best at his position. The Vikings will need him to continue to mature as he is the leader of the receiving core. He should be a Christian Ponder favorite early and often.

81 Simpson, Jerome WR 6-2 190 26

Blessed with extraordinary athleticism, Simpson has the tools to be great. He is extremely inconsistent but had a fairly effective year 4. The Vikings are hoping he turned the corner and will develop a rapport with the young Ponder. Combined with Harvin Peterson Rudolph and rookie Jarius Wright the Vikings could be a much more explosive offensive team next year. If Speilman gambled correctly Simpson can pay huge dividends.

84 Jenkins, Michael WR 6-4 214 29

Forced into the number one role Jenkins perform expectedly average. He has good size but lacks the ability to consistently separate against man to man coverage vs. true number one cornerbacks. If he is returned to his more natural number two spot he should receive more targets. Jenkins is far from irreplaceable but can be an asset to the offense if used correctly. He is coming off of a season ending knee injury but should be healthy for the start of otas.

1 Wright, Jarius WR 5-10 180 22

Looking to get more speed and run after catch ability the Vikings selected Wright in the fourth round. An all-Sec performer as a senior Wright can bring excitement to an often lackluster unit. With return ability and unquestioned speed wright should be an immediate contributor.

85 Childs, Greg WR 6-3 217 22

With true number one measurable talent, size, speed nor work ethic is in question. Child's only question mark is health. His junior season was cut short by an injury that also plagued him the entire senior ear. Prior to his injury he was touted as one of the best receivers in college football’s best conference. Not short on confidence Childs has mentioned that he thinks he is the steal of the draft, he may just prove it.

19 Aromashodu, Devin WR 6-2 201 28

Good size great speed decent hands are words used to describe DA. Forced into action he became a target for the passing offense with mixed results. Throughout his career he has never been able to put it all together and is pretty much who he is. Never going to be a number one or two even, Aromashodu does provide solid depth. If his presence stands in the way of a young developing receiver he will be shown the door.

11 Burton, Stephen WR 6-1 221 22

A young 2011 draft pick Burton had a rough training camp but progressed during the year. Although he only had two catches he should have a shot to battle for a roster spot. He will have to be productive to be out DA or one of the rookies. With nice size and speed Burton is a bit raw. He is a practice squad candidate that could provide good depth. Still very young he has time to develop, but will need to show major improvement.

16 Arceneaux, Emmanuel WR 6-2 211 24

A former CFL player with little NFL experience will have to dazzle this off season to have a chance. Last year he was simply not ready for live action and needs to improve dramatically.

Tight ends

82 Rudolph, Kyle TE 6-6 259 22

With tremendous size and underrated skill set Rudolph is poised to become a staple in the Vikings offense. The tight ends position can really ease some pressure off of young quarterbacks. With a collection of spectacular catches Rudolph's growth was stunted by a number of variables. He will need to be successful for Musgrave’s offense to truly work.

89 Carlson, John TE 6-5 251 28

John Carlson is a ball catching machine. He finds a way to get open with route running savvy. He has good size and will get plenty of action in this offense. Signed for 25 million dollars Carlson will be depended on to carry a huge load. His blocking leaves something to be desired but that is not how he makes his money. A great third down target Carlson should have a very productive year.

83 Reisner, Allen TE 6-3 248 23

The Iowa product really fits the Hawkeye mold. Not real flashy but a good football player. Last camp Reisner flashed enough to remain on the roster the entire season. His reliable hands make him an asset to the passing game. He is a willing blocker that will give you all that he has on every play. He will face stiff competition but should make the roster and contribute.

86 Shuler, Mickey TE 6-4 251 25

Originally drafted by the Vikings, Shuler was claimed off of the practice squad by the Dolphins. He has good size and is well rounded. Good at most everything, not great at anything Shuler has a low ceiling but could prove to be reliable.

Conclusion

The Vikings receiving core will be dramatically upgraded from top to bottom. Jerome Simpson has a chance to be the vertical threat we have missed, Percy will be better and one I the rookies is bound to step up in a big way. With a more experienced quarterback and an improved line this group should surprise people.

Roster

Jerome Simpson

Michael Jenkins

Percy Harvin

Greg Childs

Jarius Wright

Stephen Burton

TE

John Carlson

Kyle Rudolph

Allen Reisner

Mickey Shuler