The Minnesota Vikings wasted no time digging back into the receiver market after beating the New Orleans Saints, and JuJu Smith-Schuster was the name they brought in Monday.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the workout, though there was no confirmation of a signing tied to the visit. For Minnesota, it was a chance to get eyes on a veteran pass catcher without making any immediate roster move.
Smith-Schuster’s career gives the Vikings plenty to evaluate. The Pittsburgh Steelers made him a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and he quickly became a meaningful part of their passing game. His biggest year came in 2018, when he was named to the Pro Bowl after piling up 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns.
He later went on to help the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII, which adds another layer to why a team would kick the tires on him now. Minnesota is looking at a player who has already handled big stages and high-pressure snaps.
There are also some questions the Vikings need answers to before anything moves forward. Smith-Schuster spent the offseason with the New York Giants, but he was cut before the regular season. A knee issue affected his preseason, so his physical state figures to matter in any decision Minnesota makes.
That’s the real value in a workout like this one. The Vikings can study his movement, his route running and how well he might fit before deciding whether to keep the conversation going.
For now, there’s no deal, and the visit itself doesn’t signal that anyone on the current roster is on the brink. It does, however, show that Minnesota is still surveying its options even after Sunday’s win.
Smith-Schuster gets a shot to make his case. The Vikings now have to decide whether that case is strong enough to turn a workout into something more.
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