Vikings Territory: Fitzgerald-To-Vikings Dream Scenario Still Has Tiny Pulse

Press release from Vikings Territory:

July 10, 2021

Trailing Jerry Rice by 5,403 receiving yards, ahead of Terrell Owens by 1,558 — that’s where wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald lives on the NFL’s all-time receiving pecking order as of July 2021.

Interviewed by Rachel Nichols of ESPN and reported by ProFootballTalk.com, Fitzgerald affirmed his open-mindedness on Friday regarding his 2021 status for retirement or returning for his 18th NFL campaign.

There is a school of thought that suggests Fitzgerald is holstering his decision, opting not to steal the limelight from the Phoenix Suns, who are participating in the NBA Finals for the first time in 28 years. Although, that is merely a speculative theory.

@AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/eqSBuAt4Fl

The Vikings — despite no firm link to Fitzgerald outside of hometown lore, something Minnesotans are good at — indeed have a spot available on the depth chart for a reliable WR3. General Manager Rick Spielman does not routinely employ a “big name” at this position — see Jarius Wright, Laquon Treadwell, Aldrick Robinson — but the free-agent addition of Fitzgerald, if only for one final hurrah, would drastically change that tendency. For now, it’s a hodgepodge of Chad Beebe, Bisi Johnson, and rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette theorized for WR3 with training camps just weeks away.

As a matter of common practice (outside of Jerry Rice’s wizardry), when a wide receiver hits his late-late 30s (soon to be 38 in August for Fitzgerald), signing on with a sentimental team is symbolic or poetic. And it usually entails returning to a former team. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, would actually be granted attention in the Vikings offense. Surehandedness is his most noteworthy trait, and the Vikings lost one of their handsy players in Kyle Rudolph to the New York Giants this offseason. Mix in the Vikings middling WR3 options with Fitzgerald’s otherworldly knack for catching a football — and a key pass-catching role is conceivable. Think of 3rd Down situations and redzone dealings. Those could be Fitzgerald’s moneymakers with the Vikings.

The Vikings and Cardinals meet in Week 2 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.