Instant reaction: Report: Vikings to sign receiver Dede Westbrook
Vikings make a late offseason add to the offense
By Matthew Coller
Welcome, WR3.
After an offseason spent wondering if the Minnesota Vikings would head into training camp with Chad Beebe and Bisi Johnson as the leaders for the third receiver job, the team has added veteran Dede Westbrook just days before camp, according to NFL reporter Josina Anderson.
The 2017 fourth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars was a significant contributor to the Jags’ offense in 2018 and 2019, catching 66 passes each year and producing eight total touchdowns. Jags QBs completed just over 68% of throws in his direction between those two seasons for an average of 10.4 yards per reception.
Westbrook was almost entirely used as a slot receiver with the Jags, lining up outside on just 17% of his snaps in 2019, per PFF.
Westbrook missed nearly all of last season with a leg injury.
In recent years the Vikings have signed an assortment of players to hold down the WR3 role and none of them have stuck. Michael Floyd, who came to Minnesota in 2017, finished with just 10 receptions. In 2018 the Vikings brought in Kendall Wright but he was cut before the start of the season. Aldrick Robinson was signed just before 2018 Week 1 and finished with 17 receptions. They added Jordan Taylor and Josh Doctson in 2019 to no avail. And last year Tajae Sharpe was supposed to fill the void but finished with zero catches.
So how can the Vikings avoid the same fate with Westbrook?
For starters, by using three-receiver sets. Per SharpFootballStats, the Vikings only used three-receiver personnel groupings on 29% of their total plays, which was the lowest by a country mile. Tennessee ranked 31st in 11-personnel usage at 38% of offensive snaps.
If Westbrook proves to be a fit, they could reduce the number of plays in which they use two tight ends (35%). With Kyle Rudolph out of the mix, the door is open to use Westbrook more often than TE2 Tyler Conklin, especially in key passing situations.
We could also see the former Jaguar receiver adapt to a role that includes more downfield passing than what he saw in Jacksonville with Blake Bortles at the helm.
As a rookie throws over 20 yards made up 20% of his targets and he graded a 92.6 (out of 100) on deep throws, per PFF. In 2019, deep passes only made up 11% of total targets. That number could go back up with a Kubiak offense that emphasizes play-action shots.
Even if Westbrook ultimately becomes a limited part of the Vikings’ offense, he brings more piece of mind than Beebe and Johnson.
With two solid seasons under his belt, there’s more confidence that he could fill in for Adam Thielen or Justin Jefferson if either player were to suffer an injury. Last year Thielen missed one game and Jefferson was healthy the entire season but in 2019 Stefon Diggs was forced to carry the load without an effective backup to step up in Thielen’s absence.
Assuming Westbrook takes charge of his expected role (unlike Kendall Wright or Tajae Sharpe), there will be a battle for the WR4 and WR5 positions. Beebe, Johnson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and KJ Osborn might end up fighting for two spots. And as we’ve seen a few times in Minnesota, there’s always the possibility of a UDFA like Blake Proehl or Whop Philyor sneaking up on the pack as well.
For now, the Vikings at very least have a viable third option at receiver, which is a surprisingly big upgrade this late in the offseason.
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How's his leg?
Tough to not like this move, especially with Westbrook claiming that his knee is fully healed and he's ready for training camp. Been a while since we've had a dynamic & athletic player at the WR3 position. Most importantly, I'm a little less nervous about a scenario where Jefferson or Thielen do not play for a week or two.