The Minnesota Vikings could go in different directions with the No. 18 pick, and one option is a wide receiver, depending on the talent available when they are on the clock. Will the Vikings draft based on need, or might they go best player available?
Minnesota has Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but after those two, the depth behind them drops drastically, as there aren’t many reliable options after Jalen Nailor left in free agency. As a result, the Vikings need to fill that third wide receiver position on the depth chart.
Any injury or suspension to either Jefferson and/or Addison could spell trouble for Minnesota. Moreover, Minnesota has to make a long-term decision whether they want to pay Addison, which is why, if one of the top wideout prospects is on the board, could the Vikings pounce?
One receiver who could be available is former Arizona State Sun Devils star Jordyn Tyson, whom CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt compares to Jefferson.
“We saw [Tyson] take so many shots across the middle of the field throughout his career, and he pops right back up and gets in the huddle,” Hunt said on the April 15 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “To me, Justin Jefferson is a similar comparison with that wiry build, comparable athleticism and an underrated ability as a deep threat.
“Tyson is such a unique and loose mover that the comparisons for him are lofty. When you watch the tape, the sky is the limit. His ability at the top of his routes and his ability to separate are incredible. It really just comes down to his health and getting stronger through his routes.”
What Could Jordyn Tyson Bring to the Vikings?
Last season for the Sun Devils, Tyson posted an 82.9 overall PFF grade in 2025, ranking 37th out of 679 qualified wide receivers. His 85.3 receiving grade came in at 33rd among that same group.
Moreover, he finished with 61 catches on 97 targets for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per reception.
Tyson added 263 yards after the catch, showing what he can do once the ball is in his hands, and was credited with one drop all season, while also having an average depth of target of 11.7 yards.
As for where Tyson could go, NFL.com’s Mike Band has the wideout going to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 23. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Tyson going No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs, so the wide receiver’s projection could be anywhere from the Top 10 to late in the first round.
Adam Thielen Doesn’t Hold Back on Justin Jefferson
During an April 14 interview on the “Ross Tucker Podcast,“ former Vikings wideout Adam Thielen shared that it’s because of these actions and others that make Jefferson not only one of the best players at his position, but an overall great teammate.
“What I think makes him so good is that the first day I met him, I could tell — just his body control, the way that he runs routes and catches the football with ease, and his natural ability,“ Thielen said.
“And then, on top of that, he’s just a great teammate. Even through some of these rough years that happened in Minnesota, you don’t hear negative stuff about him because he’s the ultimate pro. He shows up, he busts his butt, he knows what to do, he practices hard every day, and he treats people with respect throughout the entire building.”
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