RETURNING STARTERS: Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor
OTHER RETURNEES: Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Thayer Thomas (all on 2024 practice squad)
NEWCOMERS: Veterans Tim Jones (with Jacksonville in 2024) and Rondale Moore (with Atlanta, but on IR all of 2024); draft pick Tai Felton; UDFAs Silas Bolden, Dontae Fleming, Robert Lewis and Myles Price
NEXT MILESTONES: Jefferson, the first person with at least 7,000 receiving yards in his first five NFL seasons, needs five receptions to reach the 500-catch mark. He needs four to pass Steve Jordan for fourth in team history and 40 to overtake former teammate Adam Thielen, who recorded 534 for Minnesota. After that, Jefferson will be in pursuit of only Randy Moss (587) and Cris Carter (1,004).
BE SURE TO CATCH: The way receivers track the football and make something that can be difficult look so smooth. Also, which, if any, of the players in this room obtain the keys to returning punts and/or kicks.
2024 RECAP: There were whispers of Three Deep 2.0 because of Nailor’s breakthrough campaign strongly complementing Addison’s sophomore ascension and Jefferson’s unstoppable superstardom. Nailor sextupled his prior career touchdown tally (one from 2022-23) with six scores, including one in each of Minnesota’s first three games. Jefferson crossed the 1,500-yard threshold for the third instance in five tries – Jerry Rice did that four times in 20 – and Addison shrugged off missing two games to injury with a late-season tear. He nabbed 49 catches for 644 yards and eight TDs in the final 10 games of 2024.
KEY DEPARTURES: Brandon Powell, 29, flashed as a receiver in 2023 and served as the team’s punt returner the past two seasons. He averaged 7.6 yards and had a long return of 25 on 60 punt returns. Trent Sherfield, Sr., 29, posted eight catches with the Vikings and excelled as a gunner on special teams.