The Minnesota Vikings' attempt to provide second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with some extra firepower last season in veteran wide receiver Mike Wallace didn't pan out as the team had hoped. After sending a fifth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for him, Minnesota got very little out of Wallace in 2015. The speedster, slated to make $11.5 million in 2016, caught just 39 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns.
Given the lack of production and the significant 2016 salary, no one was caught off guard when the Vikings released Wallace earlier this offseason.
"It was more about money than anything else," head coach Mike Zimmer said. "I thought he was a great kid...Every day he comes to practice; he works. Even when he's frustrated, he doesn't really say he's frustrated."
Minnesota's leading receiver last year was rookie Stefon Diggs. While the young playmaker has potential, it's not an ideal scenario for Bridgewater to be relying on such young talent as he himself continues to develop. Many expect the Vikings to add a wide receiver as a result, especially after Wallace's release. But Zimmer doesn't believe that's an absolute.
"We had a receiver here that was making a lot of money that really didn't do what we needed to do," Zimmer said. "So I don't know that it's a necessity to go out and sign another wide receiver. We've got to get better with the guys we've got, and we've got to fix other areas that can allow these receivers to be more effective in the games."
None of that precludes the Vikings from taking a receiver in the upcoming draft, in which the WR position is short on star potential but long on pure talent. Vikings fans can also expect improvement in the passing game thanks to the recent additions along the offensive line in free agency. Plus, in terms of pass-catchers already on the roster, Zimmer isn't quite ready to throw in the towel on Charles Johnson.
"If he wants to be something other than just a returner, this is the year he has to do it. If he wants to be a NFL wide receiver, this is his time," Zimmer said. "A lot of guys grow up slower than others, at different times, in different stages. Guys kind of blossom in their third or fourth year. I don't know if it's going to happen - I hope it does, for our sake. I'm not trying to make excuses for him, but he wasn't at Tennessee very long. There's a lot of other factors: I don't think he was quite ready when he came in the NFL, as far as all the things you have to do to be a really good professional football players. You're always hoping - because he has the talent to do it. But there's guys that do and guys that don't. Right now, he's right on the fence."
