NFL Free Agency update: Kendall Wright signs with Vikings
The defending NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings continue to tweak their offensive unit — Mike Zimmer’s club is adding wide receiver Kendall Wright.
The 2017 Minnesota Vikings began the season with Sam Bradford behind center and wound up settling on quarterback Case Keenum. The latter helped guide the club to within one victory of the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1976.
The 2018 Minnesota Vikings will have a new field general after giving former Washington Redskins hurler Kirk Cousins some big bucks to relocate to the Twin Cities. And the six-year pro has watched general manager Rick Spielman and the organization make some subtle changes to the rest of the team’s offense as well. Earlier this month, the club parted ways with wide receiver Jarius Wright — who latched on with the Carolina Panthers. Now the Vikings have added a player who faced them twice this past season as a member of another NFC North squad.
A year ago, Kendall Wright played in 16 games for the Chicago Bears. He made four starts, hauling in 59 passes for 614 yards and one touchdown. Now he joins a Minnesota team that figures to get him the football a lot more this upcoming season.
Contract details
There were no numbers at the publication of this article in regard to Wright’s deal with the team, reported by Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
National reaction
Vikings are signing WR Kendall Wright, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Had 59 catches for the Bears last year, now heads to their NFC North rival as a target for Kirk Cousins.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 30, 2018
Kirk Cousins loved Jamison Crowder in Washington. Kendall Wright is a similar player and we all know Mike Zimmer loves former first-round picks (for whatever reason), so the interest makes sense. MIN is searching very hard for a WR3.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 29, 2018
Kendall Wright with the Bears in 2017, per @PFF: 41 slot catches on 51 slot targets for 393 yards and a touchdown. Thielen was Minnesota's primary slot receiver last season. This pushes Thielen outside to match with Diggs as explosive targets. Yikes. https://t.co/6let7ax2KZ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 30, 2018
Grade
It’s a solid but unspectacular addition for the Vikings. And don’t get too caught up in the fact that Wright managed only one touchdown reception this past season. Amazingly, no wide receiver for the Bears totaled more than a single touchdown reception. The Minnesota pass-catching corps includes wideouts Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and disappointing Laquon Treadwell — as well as tight end Kyle Rudolph. In essence, it’s a Wright for Wright move. Now we will have to wait to see if Mike Zimmer’s club made the right decision.
Grade: B