5.146 Vikings select WR- Stefon Diggs Maryland

[Mothman]

Even though I don't mean for this to be quite as negative as it might come out but Diggs seems to be the Bizarro Patterson. Wallace has already compared him to Antonio Brown (who, you know, last year only led the NFL in receptions, yardage, and was tied for second in touchdowns).

That does sound pretty negative.

I think Diggs himself did a nice job of putting things in perspective:

“I haven’t done anything yet,” he said. “This is practice and as far as making plays in practice, they don’t count for anything.”

Hopefully, he'll be a steal and a terrific player but everything's still in front of him at this point. It's nice to hear that he's working hard and looking good though!

[Mothman]

A bit of fun: name the current Vikes WRs that go with the pre-draft analysis from NFL.com below. I've edited the quotes slightly so they don't give away the players. I assume one of the two WRs is obvious but you still have to match him to the right set of quotes. No cheating!

WR #1:

XXXX is a very quick player who understands how to work out of the slot and sit down in the hole of a zone defense. He is tough in traffic and a deep threat who runs good routes. He understands the angling aspect of route running and how to create separation. He has quick hands to snag the ball in short throws and the ability to reel it in deep. He could add value at the return positions, although he hasn't displayed much on special teams in college.

(edit) ... gives great effort in the run game, he struggles to sustain his blocks. He utilizes quick feet off the line but can get jammed up by bigger corners.

WR #2:

Fluid, flexible athlete... (edit)... Does an outstanding job of sinking his hips and exploding out of breaks to create immediate separation. Natural ball-plucker. Excellent body control to adjust to throws, whether they're low, high or behind him. Can make contested catches. Dynamic and dangerous with the ball in his hands. Sudden once he's in space, using head fakes and impressive lateral change of direction to make multiple defenders miss. Instant acceleration is his differentiator from the slot.

... (edit)...

Most of his production came from slot or as outside receiver in space. Must prove he can win as route runner against quality cornerbacks. Play strength is below par. Gets muscled around by physical defenders. Very aware of oncoming traffic and will stop routes to avoid big hits. Gives moderate effort as a blocker, but rarely ends up getting his man blocked.

... (edit)...

Doesn't possess the strength or long speed to make a living as an outside receiver, but he can be an extremely effective weapon from the slot as a pro, turning short third-down throws into first downs. XXXX can make things happen when he has the ball in his hands and could become a consistent, productive weapon for the right offensive coordinator.

[Demi]

Probably won't take long before he's the second best receiver on the team, after Wallace. (if he isn't already)

[cromulus]

Probably won't take long before he's the second best receiver on the team, after Wallace. (if he isn't already)

I really like Diggs but I don't think this year he will be close to #2. I think Charles Johnson will compete with Wallace for the top receiver and they will be 1a/1b. Diggs I think ends up buried on the roster at #4 or maybe takes over punt return duty. I think next year will be his time to shine if he is the real deal assuming he takes over Jarius Wright's spot and we run more receiver sets. If we have some injury issues, it could change the situation a lot this year though.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Probably won't take long before he's the second best receiver on the team, after Wallace. (if he isn't already)

I'm not sure how he surpasses Johnson. Johnson is the best or at worst, 2nd best WR on this team so I'm not sure how you think Diggs would come in at #2. Diggs will surpass Wright down the road IMO (and as I said before, eventually replace Wallace) but to say he is better than Johnson simply makes zero sense

I would bet money that Johnson puts up better numbers than Wallace by seasons end. He continues to impress at camp and thats with Rhodes draped all over him all camp. That tells you something

[9man]

I'm not sure how he surpasses Johnson. Johnson is the best or at worst, 2nd best WR on this team so I'm not sure how you think Diggs would come in at #2. Diggs will surpass Wright down the road IMO (and as I said before, eventually replace Wallace) but to say he is better than Johnson simply makes zero sense

I would bet money that Johnson puts up better numbers than Wallace by seasons end. He continues to impress at camp and thats with Rhodes draped all over him all camp. That tells you something

Do we really know what we have in Johnson? He was a bit of a surprise last year, that alone makes me cautious declaring him the best receiver on the roster. I feel like it wouldn't take much for any other receiver to surpass that. And why not Diggs, he could be the surprise this year. Obviously the coaches see something in Johnson but as a fan I need more than what I have seen to say he is the #1.

[Mothman]

Do we really know what we have in Johnson? He was a bit of a surprise last year, that alone makes me cautious declaring him the best receiver on the roster. I feel like it wouldn't take much for any other receiver to surpass that. And why not Diggs, he could be the surprise this year. Obviously the coaches see something in Johnson but as a fan I need more than what I have seen to say he is the #1.

I do too. Heck, by the end of this season Johnson could look like the #1 WR on the team or the 4th or 5th best WR on the team. He flashed briefly last season with a few good games but in 4 of his 6 starts, he was only good for 2-3 catches and approximately 25-50 yards. He wasn't exactly tearing up opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Heck, Wright caught a higher percentage of passes on which he was targeted (42 of 62 for Wright, 31-59 for Johnson), gained more yards (588, CJ had 475) and had the same number of TDs. He also added 71 yards rushing 5 attempts (CJ had 1 carry for -11). I thought he had a better season than Johnson did in 2014.

Johnson still has a LOT to prove. There are at least 4 receivers ahead of Diggs on the depth charts he does too and he may struggle to find snaps unless he just breaks out and earns them over some of those aforementioned receivers.

[mossbutt]

Whats not to digg?
He diggs in and takes names.
He looks like a diggernaut in the making.
He's got good diggle.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Do we really know what we have in Johnson? He was a bit of a surprise last year, that alone makes me cautious declaring him the best receiver on the roster. I feel like it wouldn't take much for any other receiver to surpass that. And why not Diggs, he could be the surprise this year. Obviously the coaches see something in Johnson but as a fan I need more than what I have seen to say he is the #1.

Well to sit there and say Diggs will surpass Johnson when you've also seen nothing "in-game" from Diggs doesnt really tell me much. Johnson is in his 2nd year of this offense, is the primary X WR, has a full offseason to prepare, has a good chemistry with Teddy and isn't having to worry about rehabbing his knee. He's been torching Rhodes a good chunk of times in camp. There has been highlights all over vikings.com. Average to below average WRs usually aren't torching Rhodes like he has at times.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I do too. Heck, by the end of this season Johnson could look like the #1 WR on the team or the 4th or 5th best WR on the team. He flashed briefly last season with a few good games but in 4 of his 6 starts, he was only good for 2-3 catches and approximately 25-50 yards. He wasn't exactly tearing up opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Heck, Wright caught a higher percentage of passes on which he was targeted (42 of 62 for Wright, 31-59 for Johnson), gained more yards (588, CJ had 475) and had the same number of TDs. He also added 71 yards rushing 5 attempts (CJ had 1 carry for -11). I thought he had a better season than Johnson did in 2014.

Johnson still has a LOT to prove. There are at least 4 receivers ahead of Diggs on the depth charts he does too and he may struggle to find snaps unless he just breaks out and earns them over some of those aforementioned receivers.

You're also comparing Wright, who played the ENTIRE season to Johnson who only got legit time in about half so how is that fair?? The fact that Johnson only had 11 less catches in about 7-8 less games than Wright did pretty much shows that if he was our #1 all season, he would've blew Wright's stats out of the water. Wright only "started" 7 games but got time in every one, was on the team the entire year, and had a full offseason to learn Turner's offense. Something Johnson had none of outside of his brief stint with him in Cleveland.

Also, one of those "2-3 catch games" was against Carolina when we only possessed the ball for 24 minutes due to our over abundance of special teams touchdowns.

Honestly, I'm pretty baffled that you're even comparing the two. Especially when one wasn't even on the team for part of the season. I would hope Wright has better stats since he was actually playing for the Vikings the entire season

[PurpleMustReign]

I do too. Heck, by the end of this season Johnson could look like the #1 WR on the team or the 4th or 5th best WR on the team. He flashed briefly last season with a few good games but in 4 of his 6 starts, he was only good for 2-3 catches and approximately 25-50 yards. He wasn't exactly tearing up opposing defenses on a weekly basis. Heck, Wright caught a higher percentage of passes on which he was targeted (42 of 62 for Wright, 31-59 for Johnson), gained more yards (588, CJ had 475) and had the same number of TDs. He also added 71 yards rushing 5 attempts (CJ had 1 carry for -11). I thought he had a better season than Johnson did in 2014.

Johnson still has a LOT to prove. There are at least 4 receivers ahead of Diggs on the depth charts he does too and he may struggle to find snaps unless he just breaks out and earns them over some of those aforementioned receivers.

I KNOW... it is absurd to consider Johnson the #1 on teh team right now. It shows a lack of football knowledge, and especially a lack of history of the NFL, where so many players have a few good games and then die.

[Mothman]

You're also comparing Wright, who played the ENTIRE season to Johnson who only got legit time in about half so how is that fair??

It's fair because they were targeted almost the same number of times. In other words, they had a similar number of opportunities to make plays.

The fact that Johnson only had 11 less catches in about 7-8 less games than Wright did pretty much shows that if he was our #1 all season, he would've blew Wright's stats out of the water. Wright only "started" 7 games but got time in every one, was on the team the entire year, and had a full offseason to learn Turner's offense. Something Johnson had none of outside of his brief stint with him in Cleveland.

Johnson appeared in fourteen Vikings games last season and had at least one catch in 13 of them.

Also, one of those "2-3 catch games" was against Carolina when we only possessed the ball for 24 minutes due to our over abundance of special teams touchdowns.

Honestly, I'm pretty baffled that you're even comparing the two. Especially when one wasn't even on the team for part of the season. I would hope Wright has better stats since he was actually playing for the Vikings the entire season

If you're baffled here's the point: Wright produced more on a very similar number of targets/touches and that, plus the presence of the more accomplished Mike Wallace, is more than enough to seriously call into question the idea that Johnson is the "best or at worst, 2nd best WR on this team". He simply hasn't done enough to establish that yet.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I KNOW... it is absurd to consider Johnson the #1 on teh team right now. It shows a lack of football knowledge, and especially a lack of history of the NFL, where so many players have a few good games and then die.

Lack of football knowledge huh? Well we aren't going to consider Wright, Patterson, Diggs or Thielen the #1 so that leaves Johnson and Wallace. I posted earlier that it could go either way and each of them could be considered the #1 in their own way. Bottom line is, they are going to both be the 1 and 2 and will probably see the most targets so you're really going to sit there and say "I have a lack of football knowledge" because I'm saying they are pretty much neck and neck?? Maybe you're the one with the lack of knowledge if you're going to sit here and say Johnson is anything worse than the #2.

The only reason I mentioned Johnson possibly being the 1 is because he's the primary X WR which is pretty much always the biggest producer in a Norv Turner offense. You follow me? Or is my knowledge just not up to par with yours? Name me the last time a primary X WR on ANY NFL TEAM was anything less than a #2 option?? Pretty much never. So if you're going to say I have a lack of football knowledge because of the difference of Johnson being either the 1 or 2 option, then there's something wrong here.

I've talked up Diggs for weeks now and then he started making a big impact in camp. I'm going to be the same in regards to Johnson as well. If you actually watch the press conferences and practice highlights, you might actually have a different take on things.

[Pondering Her Percy]

It's fair because they were targeted almost the same number of times. In other words, they had a similar number of opportunities to make plays.
Johnson appeared in fourteen Vikings games last season and had at least one catch in 13 of them.
If you're baffled here's the point: Wright produced more on a very similar number of targets/touches and that, plus the presence of the more accomplished Mike Wallace, is more than enough to seriously call into question the idea that Johnson is the "best or at worst, 2nd best WR on this team". He simply hasn't done enough to establish that yet.

Ummm?? Johnson appeared in 12 games as a Viking and hardly playing in the early stages. So if Wright had the same number of targets when he played a lot more than Johnsom did, then that either says Wright struggles to get open or Johnson gets open easily. You can't sit there and compare stats of two guys that didn't even come close to playing in the same number of games. As well as, Wright getting a full offseason and more time on this team and in this offense. It just doesn't make any sense. You're really going to sit here and say Wright is the #2?? Give me a break! If Wright was so much more talented, why didn't he jump into that X spot when Patterson fell flat on his face??

[Mothman]

Ummm?? Johnson appeared in 12 games as a Viking and hardly playing in the early stages.

You're right. It was 12 games, not 14. My mistake.

So if Wright had the same number of targets when he played a lot more than Johnson did, then that either says Wright struggles to get open or Johnson gets open easily.

... or (as we already know), Wright was a part time player all season. Johnson was a part time player who became a full-time starter after Patterson was benched.

As well as, Wright getting a full offseason and more time on this team and in this offense. It just doesn't make any sense. You're really going to sit here and say Wright is the #2?? Give me a break! If Wright was so much more talented, why didn't he jump into that X spot when Patterson fell flat on his face??

At 5' 10", Wright doesn't have the size to start at that position in Turner's offense. I'm not arguing that Wright is "so much more talented" anyway. The point is Johnson clearly hasn't done enough to be be declared the team's top receiver.