GM Nolan Teasley is still at it.
The Vikings bringing in some players for a workout has become the norm in the Twin Cities. Indeed, the new leader for the front office appears keen to continue the roster grind, evaluating the league’s fringe talent in search of a diamond in the rough.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert sent along the update, clarifying that WRs D’Wayne Eskridge, Dayton Wade, and JuJu Smith-Schuster got a chance to make a bid for a spot. So, too, did QB Cam Miller get a tryout. Of those players, Smith-Schuster is the top name to know given his background of playing some strong football in the NFL.
Vikings Bring in 4 for Workout, Including JuJu Smith-Schuster
Maybe the workout amounts to nothing, but there’s some intrigue due to the career that JuJu Smith-Schuster has had.
The veteran receiver got into the NFL as a 2nd-Round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, snagged by the Steelers at No. 62. His best season (by a Minnesota mile) came in 2018 when he turned 111 catches into 1,426 yards and 7 touchdowns. The NFL saw it fit to send him to the Pro Bowl for his effort, a well-earned honor given how impressive those numbers are.
Somehow, Smith-Schuster hasn’t yet arrived at his 30th birthday even though it feels like he has been in the NFL for (roughly) forever.
JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn’t yet found a way to repeat those numbers, but he has continued to get chances around the NFL. His size at 6’1″ and 215 pounds offers some appeal. Could this be an instance like with N’Keal Harry where Minnesota rolls the dice on a former high pick with a formidable frame?
The veteran has put in work around the NFL. Since catching passes for the Steelers, Smith-Schuster has gotten some opportunity to be a Chief, Patriot, Chief again, and Giant. Seeing him end up with the Vikings would mean following an oddly similar path to Odell Beckham Jr., who got snagged by the Vikings following a short time in New York working for John Harbaugh’s Giants.
| WRs on 53-Man Roster | WRs on Practice Squad |
| Justin Jefferson | Jeshaun Jones |
| Jordan Addison | Odell Beckham Jr. |
| Jauan Jennings | Dillon Bell |
| Tai Felton | Michael Briscoe |
| Myles Price |
Another connection between the Giants and Vikings from recent days has involved Dontae Fleming Jr., a former Vikings depth receiver, getting a chance to catch passes in the Big Apple. And, of course, there was the earlier trade that sent J.J. McCarthy to New York.
Anytime a quarterback gets worked out, people will take notice. Forced to guess, though, the QB was in to facilitate the workout and not do too much else. So, don’t take leave of your senses.
D’Wayne Eskridge is a reasonably notable name insofar as he got scooped up in the 2nd of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, meaning he’s got a connection to Nolan Teasley. His career has been very modest, though, suggesting limited upside. Can that built-in relationship with Teasley give him the upper hand?
Dayton Wade is the most unproven of the trio, putting in work as a depth option for the Baltimore Ravens from 2024 to 2026. Note that Baltimore did visit TCO Performance Center for joint practices before the preseason game, so maybe Minnesota’s leadership noticed something in him.
Earlier, the news emerged that the Cleveland Browns poached running back Audric Estime from the Vikings’ practice squad. As a result, there’s a minimum of a singular open spot to add new talent.