Williamson could be battling for roster spot
Troy Williamson, a former second-round pick by the Vikings now entering his third NFL season this fall, may find himself battling during summer camp: not just for a starting role, but for a roster spot of any kind. His only virtue, at this point, is that he’s currently the Vikings receiver who has been with the team the longest.
But unless Williamson’s “dropsies” improve following his time at the Nike Eye Clinic, and his catching improves on a Jake Reed-style scale, Williamson may have trouble even making the Vikings roster this year.
That’s not because the Vikings are necessarily deep with experienced receivers, but simply because so many promising and talented young receivers will be battling for roster spots, also.
Leading the pack is former Chicago Bear and Tennessee Titan Bobby Wade; while he’s not setting the record books on fire, he has more career NFL catches than any other Viking receiver currently on the roster… at only 101 over four seasons.
While that’s nothing that’s gonna buy an NFL player a year-round vacation home rental, it’s about the best the Vikings have left on a team that only a couple years ago boasted Randy Moss, Koren Robinson, Marcus Robinson and Travis Taylor, with Williamson as a then-promising rookie.
Battling for the second receiver spot opposite Wade are Williamson and this year’s second-round pick, Sidney Rice, with Rice looking like the leading contender for the starting nod in pre-summer camp workouts.
Also competing for spots on the Vikings roster this season are two strong later-round draft picks Aundrae Allison and Chandler Williams, as well as fifth-year veterans Billy McMullen and Randy Hymes. Also on the team is rookie free agent Todd Lowber, a former track star who never has played organized football. And training camp favorite from last year, practice squad member Jason Carter is expected to make a bid for a roster spot also.
Some will work out; others won’t. But on a Vikings team with both RB Chester Taylor and rookie RB Adrian Peterson looking for at least 15 carries apiece, and a young, inexperienced QB like Tavaris Jackson looking to ease into the starting role, it’s not likely the Vikings will be airing it out as much this season as have Vikings teams of the past decade or so.
The Vikings could keep as few as five receivers his season; if some of these younger, less expensive WRs work out, and it comes down to a cheap rookie like Lowber versus an expensive bust like Williamson has been so far, who do you think the Vikings will keep and who do you think the Vikings will trade?
Bottom line: if even three of these other players behind Wade look dependable, don’t think the Vikings will keep Williamson around to be the team’s fifth receiver.
