Vikings Draft Speedster Wide Receiver

Sep 30, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver Tai Felton (10) runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images. The Minnesota Vikings had to wait quite some time on Friday night before making a draft pick, possessing only four selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, courtesy of the Dallas Turner trade last year. Vikings Draft Speedster Wide Receiver General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added offensive guard Donovan Jackson for Ohio State on Thursday night and followed the Round 1 fesitives with speedy Maryland wideout Tai Felton on Friday. Felton is a Viking for at least the next four years. It’s WR Tai Felton in Round 3 for Vikings NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Vikings drafted WR Tai Melton with the No. 102 overall pick — the first Maryland player Minnesota has drafted since Stefon Diggs, which worked out well. That ends Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and we now move on to Saturday, with Shedeur Sanders still on the board …?” Aug 31, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver T. Felton (10) celebrates during the third quarter against the Connecticut Huskies at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports Yes, Shedeur Sanders’ mind-boggling tumble dominated the entire first two nights of the draft, but Felton matters, too, Minnesota’s newest wide receiver and first chosen since Jordan Addison in Round 1 two years ago. Who’s Tai Felton? Felton is 22 years old and 6’1″ + 185 pounds, with 4.37 speed — which is no joke. He’s known for his speed, offensive creativity, route-running, and size. He’s not overly physical and needs work on contested catches. NFL Draft Buzz on Felton: “Tai Felton projects as an immediate contributor from the slot with eventual potential to develop into a starting Z-receiver in systems that prize route technicians over pure athletes. He not only can take the top off defenses with 4.3 speed, but can also be the one moving chains on third down with crafty stems and sharp breaks that corners just can’t mirror.” “His NFL ceiling will be determined by his ability to add functional strength without sacrificing the quickness that makes him special. Teams running timing-based passing games like San Francisco, Green Bay, and Cincinnati should have Felton highlighted on their draft boards as a potential Day 2 selection.” Sep 21, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver T. Felton (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Villanova Wildcats during the third quarter at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Image. Felton figures to slide onto the Vikings’ depth chart around WR4 or WR5, depending on his summer progression. NBD added, “Give him a quarterback who throws with anticipation rather than waiting for receivers to be wide open, and Felton could become one of those receivers who quietly accumulates 70+ catches annually while rarely making highlight reels.” “Felton runs angry despite his slender build, and that competitive toughness suggests he’ll outperform several receivers selected before him. His development curve hasn’t plateaued yet – this is a player still ascending as he enters the league, with the football IQ and technical foundation to become a quarterback’s most trusted target on crucial downs.” The Path to Pick No. 102 Adofo-Mensah fired off his first trade of the event, doing business with the Houston Texans — one of his favorite dance partners — moving the very bottom of Round 3 to nab Felton. Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver T. Felton (10) runs by Southern California Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey (7) during the second half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images He shipped the 97th pick (Round 3) and 187th pick (Round 6) to Houston for No. 102 (3rd Round) and No. 142 (Round 5). Nearly all trusted trade calculators handed Minnesota the overt trade advantage. New WR Room Assuming Minnesota doesn’t sign any free agent wideouts this spring or summer — it might — the WR corps could look like this in 2025: Justin Jefferson Jordan Addison Jalen Nailor Rondale Moore Tai Felton Tim Jones Next on Saturday? Adofo-Mensah has two picks left on Saturday — both in Round 5 and within three spots of each other, 139 and 142. Either pick could be prime placement for a running back, perhaps SMU’s Brashard Smith. NFL.com on Felton Head draft analyst Lance Zeirlien profiled Felton this way: “Tall, slender wideout whose impressive 2024 production appears to be more a function of target volume than projectable talent. Felton is a linear route runner who will struggle with tight press and physical man coverage inside the route.” “He can build speed inside long strides and has proven he can make tacklers miss, creating chunk plays on possession throws. He lacks functional strength and rarely owns the catch space when contested. Felton has backup potential, but he could compete for a role as a gunner early on.” Nov 25, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Maryland Terrapins wide receiver T. Felton (10) catches a touchdown pass as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Robert Longerbeam (7) defends during the first half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Felton’s full name is Tai’Shar Felton. He attended the same high school as new Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The Terrapin ranked No. 113 on the Consensus Big Board.