Pierre Garcon to Vikings: Why Ex-Colts WR Would Look Good in Minnesota

The Vikings have a long offseason ahead of them. After a 3-13 season, Adrian Peterson's torn ACL and Toby Gerhart's torn MCL, Minnesota has more holes to fill than Tom Cruise has crazy pills. 

There's much to do and a limited number of resources to do it. One area that needs addressing is the wide receiver position. 

There will be a handful of talented wide receivers available this offseason, but Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon should be Minnesota's target. 

Current Receiver Core Is Weak

While the offensive line and defensive backfield should take front stage in the offseason, the wide receiver position cannot go overlooked. 

Minnesota had zero receivers post 1,000 or more receiving yards and only one receiver posted 500-plus yards (Percy Harvin, 967). No receiver caught more than six touchdowns and only one player had more than 37-plus receptions.

Now, part of those numbers are on the weak offensive line mixed with the production of a rookie quarterback. But Minnesota's 2011 receiving core doesn't wreak of talent ready for the Super Bowl. 

Of the six players with 36 or more receptions in 2011, only three are guaranteed back in 2012. 

Pierre Garcon would help fill the void left by one of those three receivers and do it at a much higher level of play.

Garcon Only Getting Better

Entering the NFL in 2008 as a sixth-round draft pick (No. 205 overall), Pierre Garcon was in a very desirable situation. He was a member of the Indianapolis Colts and would play with future  Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. 

Sure, the Colts did have depth at the receiver position (Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison), but it's not everyday you have the opportunity to catch passes from one of the game's best. 

Now, the argument could be made that early on Garcon's statistics were derived, in part, because of Manning's talents. 

If there were any beliefs on that issue prior to the 2011 season, they should be at rest now. Garcon caught 70 passes for 947 yards and six touchdowns from Dan Orvlosky (career stats: 58.5 completion percentage, 75.8 passer rating, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 2,880 yards on 465 pass attempts) and Curtis Painter (career stats: 51.7 completion percentage, six touchdowns, nine interceptions, 60.6 passer rating and 1,624 yards on 271 attempts). 

If he can put up his career-highs in receiving yards and receptions (and tie his high for touchdown receptions) with the passing duo of Painter and Orvlosky, then the man has skill—skills that are progressing every year.

Young but Experienced

Some may think he's older, but Pierre Garcon is only 25. But as a wide receiver playing with Peyton Manning, you can look good quickly which may make people think you're older than you really are. 

But Garcon possesses a mere four years of NFL experience and should be in the prime of his NFL career. He has been to the postseason every year sans 2011. He's played in a conference championship game and a Super Bowl. 

Not too many players on Minnesota's current roster can say they have played in a Super Bowl. 

He's played with a future Hall of Fame quarterback, and that means he should be able to provide insights to his fellow wide receivers (whoever they may be in Minnesota) and maybe have an insight or two for Christian Ponder. 

Signing Garcon would continue the Vikings' youth movement while adding a veteran-caliber player. It's the best of both worlds. 

Versatile

At the NFL Combine in 2008, Pierre Garcon was a little-known commodity from Division III Mount Union. But Garcon made his presence known.

He posted a 4.48 second 40-yard dash and a 36.5-inch vertical, and still wasn't selected until the sixth round. This NFL Combine brief explained that there were concerns about Garcon's abilities to break a defender's jam at the line of scrimmage. 

But his speed and ability to play vertical have made him a consistently undervalued and underrated wide receiver in the game today.

Having played with Peyton Manning for three years, Garcon was able to display his versatility. He's effective in the screen game and can run routes over the middle or deep down the sideline.

A versatile receiver with experience? That's probably something Minnesota shouldn't be interested in....

Good Value

Pierre Garcon isn't as sexy of a name as other wide receivers on the market. Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace or Marques Colston may get the people going harder, but Garcon would be a great pickup for Minnesota. 

As discussed in this slideshow, Garcon is a well-rounded receiver. He's got speed, relative size and the ability to go over the middle. That style of play can fit into any offense. 

Given that Garcon has never posted 1,000 yards receiving, 100 or more reception or over six touchdowns, he will come at a discounted price relative to the previous receivers listed. 

That doesn't mean that he isn't talented. Garcon is a player about to enter his prime. He had a great year in 2011 given who his quarterback was. If he had Peyton Manning throwing him passes in 2011, then I would expect his numbers to have neared 100 receptions and gone over 1,000 yards receiving. 

The man has talent that can be had at a discount compared to the other three names. Minnesota would be wise to go get him. If they can.