I'm not criticizing Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater when I say that he didn't make the same type of leap in Year 2 as Oakland's Derek Carr or Jacksonville's Blake Bortles. Minnesota didn't ask Bridgewater to do the same things as those other guys and what they did ask him to do he did admirably. But for him to develop like the Vikings expect, he's going to need more help around him.
The offensive line should be the team's top priority, but wide receiver shouldn't be ignored. Minnesota's pass-catchers finished last season ranked next to last in receptions (294), total receiving yards (3,246) and receiving touchdowns (14). Some of that had to with Minnesota's run oriented offense, but some of it had to do with a lack of quality options.
Mike Wallace is gone, Charles Johnson didn't make an impact last season and Cordarrelle Patterson may officially be a bust. Outside of Stefon Diggs, the Vikings don't have much at the position. But the 2016 NFL Draft offers some very enticing options.
Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell is the big name in this year's draft class. He dominated against elite SEC competition and has legit size at 6-2 and 221 pounds. He's a physical receiver who would add some toughness to Minnesota's WR corps. But speed is the big question when it comes to Treadwell. Can he consistently separate against NFL cornerbacks?
Notre Dame's Will Fuller doesn't have that problem. With a 4.27 40-yard dash time, this guy is a legit burner. He's what the Vikings had hoped Wallace would be: a consistent homerun threat. But Fuller doesn't have the size you typically look for in a No. 1 receiver and he's had some trouble with drops.
TCU's Josh Doctson may be my favorite choice to pair with Bridgewater. Doctson is a playmaker pure and simple. He makes tough catches in traffic, he goes up and fights for the ball and he can recover well on bad throws. No, he doesn't have blazing speed either. But he's fast enough to compete at the next level and is capable of making guys miss once the ball is in his hands.
This draft class may be short on pure star power at the position (there's no Amari Cooper this year), but all three of these guys could help Bridgewater develop into a better quarterback next season.
