The Minnesota Vikings have initially received very poor grades for their 2026 NFL Draft. A big reason why is because the team failed to add a new wide receiver to Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Former 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton entered draft weekend as the team’s No. 3 receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. That remains the case in the first week after the draft.
The Vikings lost their No. 3 receiver from last year, Jalen Nailor, to NFL free agency.
But Minnesota might still have an opportunity to better replace Nailor with a veteran wideout still on the open market.
Following the 2026 NFL Draft, Bleacher Report’s Julia Stumbaugh called the Vikings one of the two best landing spots for former All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Stumbaugh linked Hopkins to O’Connell and the Vikings because of his previous connection to new Minnesota quarterback Kyler Murray.
Hopkins and Murray played together with the Arizona Cardinals for three seasons. In 35 games, Hopkins had 221 catches and 2,696 receiving yards. The wideout also had 17 touchdowns.
The receiver’s final All-Pro campaign came in Arizona during the 2020 season. Hopkins also made the Pro Bowl that year.
According to Spotrac, Hopkins has earned $144.46 million in his NFL career.
What DeAndre Hopkins Could Bring to Minnesota
Pundits have floated the Vikings possibly signing Hopkins this offseason since Murray landed in Minnesota. The noise grew very loud around that possibility when the receiver directly addressed it himself.
“If Kyler needed me, if the Vikings need me, they know I’ll be there,” Hopkins told TMZ Sports in March.
Hopkins isn’t the same receiver he once was. The 13-year NFL veteran will turn 34 years old in June.
Since 2020, Hopkins has registered just one 1,000-yard campaign.
But the veteran could provide depth as a quality WR3 with the Vikings. His potential to make an impact in Minnesota is also potentially higher than if he joined other teams because of his familiarity with Murray.
Last season, Hopkins posted 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens. Stumbaugh named the Ravens the other best landing spot for Hopkins this offseason.
Vikings Fail to Add WR for Kevin O’Connell’s Offense
The Bleacher Report analyst called the Vikings a strong landing spot for Hopkins after NFL Draft weekend. During the 2026 NFL Draft, Minnesota didn’t add any receivers despite making nine selections.
Most of the team’s early picks addressed defensive needs for the Vikings. Of the nine selections overall, only four of them were offensive players. And one of those four offensive picks was a fullback.
After the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings added four undrafted wide receivers. Those wideouts were Georgia’s Dillon Bell, Maryland’s Shaleak Knotts, Georgia Southern’s Marcus Sanders, and Arizona’s Luke Wysong.
Still, it’s hard to feel good about Minnesota’s receiving depth when the team might be counting on a late-round 2025 pick or undrafted free agent to be a WR3.
Felton currently appears to own that role on the Vikings depth chart. As a rookie last season, Felton had three catches for 25 yards.
Nailor was the team’s WR3 with 29 catches and 444 receiving yards last season. Nailor led the Vikings with 15.3 yards per reception.
The veteran wideout signed a 3-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
Jefferson and Addison give the Vikings one of the best 1-2 punches at receiver in the league. How the team supports those two pass-catchers, though, remains to be seen.
After missing on wideout in the 2026 NFL Draft, calls for the Vikings to target Hopkins will only grow louder.
Vikings Named Landing Spot for $144 Million Playmaker After Neglecting WR in NFL Draft