7 Wide Receivers Minnesota Vikings Must Consider in 2015 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings have finally found their franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, and now it is time to give him a definitive No. 1 wide receiver. In a class filled with talent and potential, Minnesota will have a number of strong options to consider.

While the first wide receiver will almost certainly come off the board before the Vikings select at No. 11, every prospect should be considered part of the conversation.

Alabama's Amari Cooper, West Virginia's Kevin White and Louisville's DeVante Parker have dominated receiver prospect headlines to date. However, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong and Missouri's Dorial Green-Beckham have also crept into the first-round conversation.

Minnesota may not be able to select the top player on its draft board, as many expect the Oakland Raiders to draft a wide receiver at pick No. 4. Even in a worst-case scenario, however, it is a near-guarantee that the Vikings will have an opportunity to acquire, at the very least, the third-best wide receiver on their draft board.

Additionally, if general manager Rick Spielman elects to draft a different position in the first round, there will still be plenty of value available in later rounds.

Let's take a look at just a few 2015 wide receiver prospects Spielman and the Vikings must consider drafting.

Draft-Board Risers Worth Noting

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Breshad Perriman, Central Florida

Perriman has seen his draft stock skyrocket over the past few weeks due to his ideal size (6'3", 214 lbs) and natural athleticism. He may ultimately hear his name called in the first round, but his raw route-running ability should be a major area of concern for a team like the Vikings.

Sammie Coates, Auburn

Coates possesses athleticism, size (6'2", 201 lbs) and outstanding potential. However, he wasn't a consistent or reliable target at Auburn. His catching ability and basic fundamentals are suspect, which are issues Minnesota would hope to avoid when drafting a wide receiver.

Nelson Agholor, Southern California

Agholor is a more refined prospect than Perriman or Coates and is an above-average route-runner. He doesn't possess dominating size (6'1", 190 lbs), however, and projects better as a slot receiver. While Agholor's understanding of the position and above-average fundamentals would be welcomed in Minnesota, the Vikings could better use a prospect with a skill set that projects as an outside option.

Devin Smith, Ohio State

The 2015 national champion Smith is arguably the best deep-threat prospect in this year's class. His 6'1", 199-pound frame, like Agholor's, won't raise any eyebrows, but his talent is undeniable. Regardless, the Vikings already have a solid deep-threat option in Charles Johnson, which makes Smith a less enticing draft option.

Amari Cooper, Alabama

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Projected Draft Position: Top-15 Selection

Initially considered to be a top-five lock, Cooper wasn't even viewed as a possibility for the Vikings at No. 11 until relatively recently.

Standing at 6'1" and weighing 210 pounds, Cooper does not possess a dominating physical frame. He may not be the "jump ball" option the Vikings could use in the red zone, but Cooper isn't undersized by any means.

Despite his relatively average size, Cooper was unmatched in production at the college level. During his final season at Alabama, the Heisman Trophy finalist recorded 124 receptions, 1,727 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games.

In addition to his outstanding statistical totals, Cooper is undoubtedly the most developed wide receiver prospect the 2015 class has to offer. He has a great feel for his position, consistently runs crisp routes and has little issue creating separation at the line of scrimmage. Simply, Cooper was able to produce at a high level despite playing in the SEC conference with an average (possibly subpar) quarterback.

Cooper would instantly upgrade the Vikings wide receiver depth chart. An argument could be made that he may be a more reliable target than Greg Jennings, even as a rookie.

The fact that he played with Bridgewater in high school certainly doesn't hurt either:

"

A reminder that Teddy Bridgewater and Amari Cooper were battery mates on the same HS team.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 14, 2014"

Kevin White, West Virginia

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Projected Draft Position: Top-15 Selection

White didn't produce elite numbers as consistently as Cooper, but his above-average size and outstanding senior season may make him the first wide receiver drafted this year.

Following a senior season in which he produced 109 receptions, 1,447 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches, White has risen to the top of many analysts' draft boards. This production in combination with his skill set and 6'3", 209-pound frame has resulted in comparisons to Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons.

"

I love Parker, Cooper & DGB on tape but West Virginia's Kevin White is my top WR. He has the same traits as Julio Jones.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 7, 2015"

He uses his size as an advantage—unlike Cordarrelle Patterson or Charles Johnson—and has no issue creating separation at the line of scrimmage, even against bigger defensive backs. White is also competitive and powerful, making him a mismatch in the open field.

If White shows top-notch speed at the NFL combine, according to NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock, he will instantly vault himself into guaranteed top-10 selection territory.

Although White can't match Cooper's intelligence or elite fundamentals, his ideal size and ability to attack the ball at its highest point would be huge benefits to Bridgewater and the Vikings.

DeVante Parker, Louisville

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Projected Draft Position: Top-15 Selection

Parker, who played alongside Bridgewater at Louisville, was originally widely considered the best wide receiver option for the Vikings at No. 11.

Similar to White, Parker has ideal size at 6'3", 208 pounds and uses it to his advantage. His outstanding body control and elite-level focus make him the definition of a reliable target.

However, Parker doesn't possess the fully developed fundamentals of Cooper or White, and his injury history should raise some concerns. During his senior season, Parker played in only six games for the Cardinals. While this should be considered, Parker returned from his most recent injury with outstanding production—43 receptions, 855 receiving yards and five touchdown catches.

Parker does not have as high of a floor as Cooper or as high of a ceiling as White, but there is no doubting his natural ability, ideal frame and strong intangibles. He would fulfill the Vikings' need for a tall wide receiver and, according to Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, represents an incredible value pick at No. 11.

"

@kingwarren2 IMO, WR would be a good value where they're picking. Reuniting Bridgewater and WR DeVante Parker would be ideal

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 18, 2014"

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

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Projected Draft Position: Late First-Round Selection

If Minnesota decides to trade down from pick No. 11, Strong would immediately enter its draft radar.

Strong, who is a bit bigger than both White and Parker at 6'4", 212 pounds, produced outstanding numbers in two seasons at Arizona State. He totaled 157 receptions, 2,287 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in 26 collegiate games.

His skills are raw in comparison to other first-round-caliber receivers, but he still maintains the ability to have an immediate impact at the next level. His lack of experience may hurt him initially, but he does track the ball well in the air and shouldn't have any issue with creating separation.

Strong isn't regarded as highly as other wide receiver prospects, but he doesn't represent a major drop-off from Parker (or White), according to Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports.

"

Watched WR prospects last night, and realized it's so hard to pick the No. 1 guy between Kevin White, DeVante Parker and Jaelen Strong.

— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) February 12, 2015"

Spielman could go after Strong after trading down from No. 11 or after moving back into the first round. Strong has the elite size necessary to dominate in the red zone that Minnesota lacked in 2014.

Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri

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Projected Draft Position: Late First to Third Round

If it wasn't for his long list of off-field issues, Dorial Green-Beckham may have been in the conversation to be the first wide receiver drafted.

The 6'6", 205-pound Green-Beckham was dismissed from Missouri after just two seasons. Although he would later sign with Oklahoma, the NCAA deemed him ineligible, effectively ending his collegiate career.

Green-Beckham may not have played much, but he did enough during his sophomore season at Missouri to reaffirm what his outstanding athleticism and dominating physical frame suggest. He caught 59 balls for 883 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Despite having an indisputable size advantage, Green-Beckham lacks refinement. His routes aren't defined, and he struggles to create separation in press coverage. There is also reason to believe that he lacks a complete understanding of his position. Simply, it isn't just his character that is in need of maturation.

It seems far more likely that a team other than the Vikings will gamble on Green-Beckham, but he shouldn't be completely ignored by Minnesota scouts. As NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah notes, he is a definitive mismatch in the red zone, which would be a huge asset for Bridgewater.

"

Green-Beckham is a freak show in the red zone. Rare size/ball skills.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) November 9, 2013"

The Vikings can't risk a first- or second-round pick on Green-Beckham, but if he does fall into the third or fourth round, Spielman may have no choice but to pull the trigger.

Tony Lippett, Michigan State

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Projected Draft Position: Fourth or Fifth Round

If Minnesota doesn't acquire a receiver in the first round, Spielman may look to make a value selection in the middle rounds. Tony Lippett, who doesn't possess any jaw-dropping traits, would fill the Vikings' need for a lengthy target and should be an excellent middle-round value.

After a couple of mediocre seasons, Lippett showed dramatic improvement during his senior season at Michigan State. In 13 games, the 6'3", 195-pound receiver totaled 65 receptions, 1,198 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches.

While he doesn't possess elite athleticism and isn't completely developed fundamentally, Lippett is a dangerous red-zone target. He is capable of dominating the stereotypical cornerback and uses his above-average length to create a decisive advantage. Lippett is a dangerous one-on-one matchup and would give Bridgewater a huge radius to throw into.

"

Tony Lippett of Michigan State with some fine leaping catches in red zone 1 on 1st @seniorbowl

— Michael Tanier (@MikeTanier) January 22, 2015"

It is rare for a team to find a true No. 1 wide receiver in the middle rounds of the draft. Lippett doesn't have much upside and likely never will develop into a definitive No. 1 option, but his situational strengths would provide a ton of value to the Vikings—especially as a middle-round selection.

Vince Mayle, Washington State

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Projected Draft Position: Fourth or Fifth Round

Had he played football directly out of high school, Washington State's Vince Mayle could potentially have been an early-round-graded wide receiver.

Mayle, who is an older prospect at 23 years old, played basketball at Shasta community college before transitioning his athleticism to the gridiron. He possesses ideal size at 6'3", 219 pounds and has impressive athleticism that once helped him win a dunk contest. However, his catching ability is still a work in progress, and he will need time to develop into an efficient route-runner.

While Mayle isn't fundamentally sound by any means, most of his issues correlate directly with his lack of experience. He played just two seasons at Washington State and didn't break out until last season. His senior stat line was impressive, however, bringing in 106 passes for 1,483 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

With the right coaching and a little time, Mayle could develop into the big-body receiver Bridgewater and the Vikings need. Minnesota won't be looking for another developmental project, but Mayle has huge upside for a fourth- or fifth-round selection.

The Vikings presumably are more likely to invest in a pro-ready prospect, but Mayle's size and potential are certainly worth consideration.

Statistics courtesy of Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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