Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have multiple holes that need to be addressed. This week on KFAN.com, there will be a series of draft prospects being highlighted before the draft starts on Thursday night.
The Vikings have done a fantastic job in the past at finding mid to late round wide receivers. Stefon Diggs was a fifth-round pick, Bisi Johnson was a seventh-round pick and Adam Thielen was an undrafted free agent.
Tyler Johnson is projected by most to go somewhere between the third and fifth round and he would be a great value pick anywhere in that range. He finished both 2018 and 2019 with over 1,000 receiving yards and double digit touchdowns.
According to PlayerProfiler.com Johnson broke out at the age of 19 ranking in the 90th percentile. On top of breaking out at an early age, Johnson has been the best receiver in this class against single coverage since 2017 according to PFF.
When looking at wide receivers, it’s fun to see the flashy combine stats such as a fast 40-yard dash time and a high vertical. But it’s important to remember that on field production is another important aspect to consider when grading receivers.
Johnson isn’t going to run the fastest 40 or be considered one of the most athletic receivers entering the league this season. However, he will come to the NFL with great route running, good hands and some of the best on field production in this entire class.
It’s crazy to think that Johnson could slide all the way down to the fourth or fifth round despite how productive he was with the Gophers, but in the last decade that is where the Vikings have found their most talented receivers. On top of keeping Johnson in the state of Minnesota, he would bring another legitimate receiving option to the Vikings roster.
Stay tuned for more draft profiles coming throughout this week on KFAN.com. The profiles will be addressing positions of need for the Vikings, and there will also be reaction pieces available after each day of the draft.