Minnesota Vikings: Assessing Their Wide Receiver Situation

The Minnesota Vikings appear to be done making deals for a wide receiver. They signed free agent Michael Jenkins from Atlanta and have reportedly restructured Bernard Berrian's contract in order to reduce their payroll to meet a $120 million salary cap.

According to the Minnesota Vikings new release distributed this week, the team has a total of 12 wide receivers on the roster for training camp—13 if you include former wideout, and current quarterback, Joe Webb.

Minnesota fans have been hoping the Vikings would make a big move following the free-agent signing of Sidney Rice this week with Seattle. The names of Braylon Edwards and Malcom Floyd have been bandied about on local sports talk as potential free-agent targets, while at the same time urging the release of Berrian. The problem is the Vikings were over the salary cap and needed to find ways to reduce their projected payroll in 2011.

In order for the signing of Donovan McNabb to be successful, the Vikings wide receivers are going to have to contribute.

While it's a good plan to leverage the talents of Adrian Peterson as much as possible, without a competent set of receivers it will be difficult for the Vikings to climb out of the basement of the NFC North.

Here's a look, in numerical order, of the wide receivers set to open training camp in Mankato, and where they will end up when the Vikings open the 2011 season.

No. 11: Jaymar Johnson

A sixth-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings from Jackson State in the 2008, Jaymar Johnson would spend that season on the practice squad. 

Johnson played in six games in 2009 returning 16 punts with a single reception.

Placed on injured reserve for a thumb injury suffered in the first exhibition game of the 2010 season, Johnson was not eligible for the season.

Johnson makes the 2011 roster, but as a punt returner or special teams player.  

No. 12: Percy Harvin

There is no doubt that Percy Harvin is the best wide receiver on the Vikings roster.

Even if he misses a couple of games with migraines, he will be among the team leaders in receptions and yards and touchdowns.

Harvin is most effective in the slot or lined up in the backfield when the team uses the shotgun.

The 5'11" Harvin was the NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 when he scored a total of eight touchdowns, two of them on kick-off returns.

Last season Harvin had 71 receptions for 868 yards and five touchdowns—all tops among Vikings receivers. He also had a rushing touchdown for a total of seven.

Harvin is a playmaker who is dangerous wherever he lines up—he's just not as effective out wide against the defense's best cornerback.

No. 13: Ryan Lincoln

According to the Vikings media guide, Ryan Lincoln is listed as a wide receiver from Texas A&M-Kingsville.

I struggled to find any information on Lincoln, except in this report from Turfshowtimes.com.

According to the site for the St. Louis Rams, Lincoln is listed at 5'11" 196 lbs. He had 65 catches for 833 yards and five touchdowns last year.

It might be a good sign that the Vikings were able to sign a player supposedly the Rams were interested in, but with a record of 13-51 over the past four seasons it may not be that big of a coup.

It might be more likely to see this guy's picture on a milk carton than on the Vikings roster in 2011.

No. 14: Joe Webb

Joe Webb is currently listed as a quarterback on the Vikings training camp roster.

The sixth-round draft pick from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where he started at quarterback for two seasons, was originally listed as a wide receiver last season.

Webb made his NFL debut in Week 13 against the Buffalo Bills on December 5, 2010. He took the opening kickoff of the game and also lined up at wide receiver for one play. He would make his debut at quarterback the next week against the Giants. He ended the season with a 1-1 record.

Webb will make the Vikings roster in 2011, but if he is going to make an impact, he will have a better chance as a wide receiver or a returner.

No. 15: Andre Holmes

Andre Holmes joins the Vikings as an undrafted free agent from Hillsdale, a small liberal arts college in Michigan.

According the Vikings training camp news release, Holmes set a single season school record with 104 receptions and receiving yards with 1,368. He also had 11 touchdowns. 

He also had an accomplishment of note, catching a school record with 16 receptions in a playoff game against St. Cloud State University from Minnesota.

He is listed at 6'5" and 208 lbs.

If Holmes makes this club it will most likely be as a practice squad player.

No. 16: Emmanual Arceneaux

Emmanual Arceneaux played his college ball at Alcorn State. Going undrafted in 2009 he would head North and play two seasons for the British Columbia Lions.

In 36 games, Arceneaux would make 130 receptions for 1,972 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The 6'2", 215-pound receiver has an outside chance to make the Vikings roster, but he will have to impress when given the chance.

No. 17: Juaquin Iglesias

Just what the Vikings need, another former Chicago Bears wide receiver.

Juaquin Iglesias was signed off the Bears' practice squad last season right before the Vikings' last game against the Detroit Lions. 

He was active for one game in 2009 for the Bears and has yet to make a catch in the NFL.

Iglesias' time in Minnesota is most likely limited until the first roster cut down. 

No. 18: Dominique Johnson

Dominique Johnson started his college career with UCLA and finished it with Cal Poly, transferring before the 2009 season.

Named Second-Team All-Great West Conference in 2009, he was Cal Poly’s top receiver in 2009, catching 43 passes for 741 yards and six touchdowns.

As an undrafted rookie free agent, if Johnson makes the team it will be as a practice squad player.

No. 19: Devin Aromashodu

The Vikings must think the Chicago Bears know something about wide receivers.

A sixth-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 2006, Devin Aromashodu made his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 and played the last two seasons with Chicago.

In three years he has played in a total of 30 games. Aromashodu's best season was 2009 when he caught 24 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns.

The only way this free-agent signee makes the Vikings roster is if he can impress during the exhibition season. Most likely, Aroashodu is training camp fodder and is released before the start of the 2011 season opener.

No. 84: Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins, a seven-year veteran in the NFL, will find a familiar face among the Vikings coaching staff in new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.

Jenkins was the Atlanta Falcons first-round draft choice in 2004, the 29th overall selection.

So far he has yet to have achieve 1,000 yards in a season. His best season was in 2009 when he had 635 yards on 50 receptions. 

Jenkins was signed to replace Sidney Rice and will line up opposite Bernard Berrian as wide receiver.

The only way Jenkins does not make the team is if he suffers a season-ending injury during the exhibition season.

A lot of fans will be comparing Jenkins' stats to the player he replaced on the Vikings roster. Odds are he will not make anyone forget how well Rice played in 2009 for the Vikings.

No. 85: Greg Camarillo

Greg Camarillo will touch the ball more often returning punts than catching passes.

Acquired in a trade for cornerback Benny Sapp from the Miami Dolphins, Camarillo is a possession-type receiver. Last season he had 20 catches for 240 yards and one touchdown.

He also returned 39 punts for 9.2-yard average.

Camarillo's spot on the roster should be pretty secure but, like last season, don't expect to see a whole lot of him playing with the offense.

No. 86: Stephen Burton

Stephen Burton comes to the Vikings as their seventh-round draft choice from West Texas A&M.

Burton was named First-Team All-Lone Star Conference as a senior when he led West Texas A&M with 1,021 yards on 70 receptions with 11 touchdowns.

If Burton makes the Vikings, it would most likely be on their practice squad.

No. 87: Bernard Berrian

The loss of Sidney Rice to free agency has made Bernard Berrian the Vikings' No. 1 receiver by default.

In three seasons in Minnesota, Berrian has yet to live up to the expectations when the Vikings signed him as a free agent from the Chicago Bears in 2008.

Berrian's best season was 2008 when he had career highs in receiving yards with 964 and touchdowns with seven. 

Last season he was limited to nine games with only 28 receptions and 252 yards, and no touchdowns. 

In the restructured deal for 2011, Berrian can become a free agent following the season. Perhaps this will be enough to motivate him to produce this season, playing for a bigger payday next season.

If the Vikings are to make any improvement over 2010 they will need Berrian to have the best season in his career.

The Minnesota Vikings Receiving Corp

The Vikings will most likely start the season with six wide receivers on the active roster.

Listing Joe Webb as a quarterback will give them potentially another receiver.

Here's what to expect:

Starters: Bernard Berrian, Michael Jenkins, and Percy Harvin.

Back-ups: Greg Camarillo, Jaymar Johnson, and Emmanual Arceneaux.

Practice Squad: Stephen Burton and Andre Holmes.