The Vikings Have a Tai Felton Question to Answer

Jeffrey Becker

Last year, the Vikings used a third-round pick on WR Tai Felton. With that level of draft capital, you expect a decent return, but so far, there has been little. With the signing of Jauan Jennings, it looks like the young Vikings receiver will do well down the pecking order once again when it comes to pass-catching opportunities.

The Vikings Must Sort Out Their WR Hierarchy

The addition of Kyler Murray this offseason should improve the Vikings’ QB play, but I still don’t see a huge volume of work coming the way of the Vikings’ WR4, which is where Felton looks set to be on the team’s depth chart. Not only will he be being Jennings, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison, but also TJ Hockenson when it comes to the target share.

Vikings wide receiver Tai Felton secures a catch while Giants cornerback Deonte Banks closes in during game action at MetLife Stadium, Dec 21, 2025, in East Rutherford. The contested reception highlighted Felton’s route timing and hands as Minnesota evaluated young receivers in live reps against starting-caliber defensive backs. Mandatory Credit: Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Selected with the 102nd overall pick in 2025, Felton didn’t see much action on offense during his rookie season. He had three targets and caught all three for 25 yards, including two first-down conversions. The Vikings’ stuttering offense, which cycled through three different starting quarterbacks over the course of the season, wasn’t conducive to a rookie down the depth chart getting the chance to make an impact.

Any hopes that Felton might be in for a breakout season in 2026 were certainly dampened by the arrival of Jennings. A big reason the Vikings made the move to sign Jennings is that he offers something that neither Felton nor any of the other Vikings WRs do. He is a big physical receiver, something Minnesota’s offense was lacking, and he gives Jennings a specific role.