2015 NFL Draft: The Case For the Vikings Drafting DeVante Parker
Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals wide receiver DeVante Parker (9) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Papa John
Here at Sporting Sota, we have made our affinity for University of Louisville receiver DeVante Parker clear. Drew put him atop his wish list for the Minnesota Vikings in this May’s NFL Draft. Prior to that, when Nick had his his Top-4 choices he would like to see for the Vikings at number 11, he also included Parker. Meanwhile, I have been driving the Parker-to-Vikings bus all offseason.
So, I have made it clear that I would like the Vikings to get Parker but I don’t know if I have fully explained why so I thought I would expound on that a bit today.
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As I stated in my earlier piece on the Viking receiving corps, I actually think we already have a good group. Greg Jennings is great at finding ways to get open, particularly in the middle of the field. He acts as a great security blanket for Teddy Bridgewater. Charles Johnson emerged as a reliable player and was one of Bridgewater’s favorite targets in 2014. He could improve on his ball skills in jump ball situations but I still like what he brings to the table. As Adam Carlson with our friends at the Viking Age wrote, Norv Turner has said that Johnson is already the Vikings best receiver in his opinion. Jarius Wright is a solid player with a propensity to make big plays, such as this one:
Adam Thielen found a footing on offense in addition to being one of the team’s leaders on special teams. Cordarrelle Patterson is confusing to everyone but is still a phenomenal athlete. Time will tell whether he can develop into a full-fledged NFL receiver. So, the Vikings look pretty solid on paper at receiver, and yet…
DeVante Parker could take this offense to the next level. The Vikings made strides last season as the year went on and Teddy improved. Still, it lacked the explosion the best offenses in the league possess. Patterson is an explosive playmaker but has not yet been able to make huge plays down the field in the passing game. Johnson could get there but seems more likely to be a very good receiver than a great one. According to NFL.com, Parker’s best traits are his elite hands and concentration which would fit perfectly with the Vikings.
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DeVante Parker will almost assuredly not turn into Randy Moss. Moss is the greatest big-play receiver to ever play the game and one of the best overall to play in the NFL. That said, when the Vikings took him in 1998, they did not need a receiver. The team already had Cris Carter, another all-time great, and Jake Reed who was one of the best second receivers in the game in the 1990s. In 1997 the Vikings ranked a respectable 11th in offense and won a Wild Card playoff game. In 1998 after Moss arrived the team had the greatest offensive season in NFL history to that point and should have made the Super Bowl.
Parker probably can’t elevate last season’s 20th ranked offense all the way to the top in his rookie year. That said he was Bridgewater’s favorite target at Louisville. The familiarity could provide immediate dividends. Add to that the fact that Teddy should naturally continue to progress and Adrian Peterson will either be back or more than likely traded for assets and the Vikings should be set up for success much more than they were last season.
Incidentally, we are not the only ones who think Parker would be a great fit for the Vikings:
- Bill Hubbell of Bleacher Report thinks the Vikings should target Parker with the 11th overall pick.
- Parker himself believes he would be a great fit for the Vikings, as Chris Tomasson on the Pioneer Press notes.
- Dan Zinski at The Viking Age pointed out that Teddy is all for a reunion as well.
We will have to wait for another couple of months to see how this all plays out, but Parker to the Vikings makes sense to a lot of people.