EAGAN, Minn. — It took until the 17^th game of 2025, but Justin Jefferson crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in as many seasons.

Jefferson finished with a team-high 1,048 yards on 84 catches, but he'd be the first to tell you his production and that of other Vikings receives and tight ends as pass catchers is not where they want the standard to be set.

That feeling is a byproduct of Jefferson setting the bar so high — among his records are the most receptions and receiving yards by an NFL player through six seasons — and a few factors that adversely affected Minnesota's passing game, resulting in a failure to fully launch or consistently produce.

Lack of continuity at quarterback and absence of prior in-game experience with the crew, along with injuries on the offensive line that resulted in 26 combinations of offensive linemen, affected the receivers and tight ends, but those groups totaled as many drops as touchdown catches (16) in 2025.

The season also seemed stuck on repeat when it came to "worst possible outcome" of a play happening. Instead of a tip or overthrow hitting the turf, the ball too often found the hands of a defender.

And it seemed like many things served as a force multiplier. An off-target pass in one instance was followed or preceded by a drop, with each undesirable outcome making the next feel worse.

The Vikings demonstrated examples of growth in the passing game by the season's end, and they want to build on that to create momentum in 2026.

Notable Numbers

10 — number of times a pass intended for Jefferson was intercepted, creating a 5:1 INT:TD ratio for the season

12.5 — yards per catch for Jefferson, which is 2.5 below the average he totaled in his first five seasons; T.J. Hockenson's yards per catch dropped to 8.6, which is 2.5 below the 11.1 he averaged in 2024

32 — longest TD catch by a Viking (Josh Oliver) on a pass thrown by RB Cam Akers in London

39 — number of receptions by the Vikings that gained at least 20 yards, the fifth-fewest in the NFL (one season after ranking second in the NFL with 64 such plays)

5 — number of receptions by Vikings players that gained 40 or more yards, tied for 25^th most in the NFL and half the 10 Minnesota racked up to tie for 8^th in the NFL in 2024

Note: Drop percentages from pro-football-reference.com.

Good things happened …

When Oliver was targeted with the football. Known more in the NFL for his blocking prowess, Oliver displayed the skill set that initially made him a consideration for teams as a pass catcher out of San Jose State.

As shown in the chart above, Oliver tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, a showing that included the first TD pass by a non-QB in an International Series game, as well as a two-score game in Minnesota's dismantling of Washington.

Oliver's 141.3 rating generated on targeted passes ranked 12^th overall in the NFL in 2025 and fourth among players with at least 15 receptions.

Hockenson ranked second on the team, generating a rating of 109.3, even though he was often tasked with staying in to help support Minnesota's pass blocking efforts.

Room to improve …

There are multiple areas for the Vikings to direct their focus, but in the interest of brevity, improvements in pass protection, precision and punctuation could go a long way for the Vikings in 2026.

The first "P" in that sequence will start by hoping for better health on the offensive line (and if Minnesota again gets gnawed by injury bugs, then capitalizing on plays that can be executed within the timeframe allowed by protection will be important).

The second "P" will require more consistent placement of the football by J.J. McCarthy, who flashed moments of elite QB play but also left some plays on the table, especially in the early and middle parts of the season.

The final "P" involves receiving targets securing the footballs that hit their hands or offsetting a drop (everyone does make mistakes) by delivering a few "out-of-body" receptions.

2 Pressing Questions for 2026

1. What will receiver depth look like?

Jefferson is under contract with the Vikings for the foreseeable future and has stated his interest in continuing to develop chemistry with McCarthy.

Jordan Addison opened with incredible production in his first two seasons, totaling 19 receiving scores from 2023-24 but secured only three through the air in 2025. Addison closed the campaign with an impressive 65-yard rushing TD against Green Bay. Minnesota dealt with him opening the season with a three-game suspension and worked out a deal to bring Adam Thielen back home to Minnesota right before the season. The move had good vibes but didn't result as either visualized through "best-case scenario" lenses. Thielen ultimately was released and signed with Pittsburgh to close out an incredible career.

Jalen Nailor continued to improve but is eligible for free agency after four seasons. The 2022 sixth-rounder played in 21 games in his first two seasons and totaled 12 catches with one score. In the past two seasons, Nailor played in every game and totaled 57 receptions for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him a player the Vikings expect to receive interest from suitors.

Tai Felton played primarily on special teams but was experiencing growth moments behind the scenes. Head Coach Kevin O'Connell likes receivers able to play from multiple spots so he can move Jefferson around the formation.

Undrafted rookie Myles Price set a franchise record for kickoff return yardage before suffering an ankle injury in Week 17 against Detroit. The Vikings were happy with the splashes he made in that role and as a punt returner, so he may get more of a look on some offensive plays.

2. Which young tight end takes the next step?

Ideally, all of them.

Hockenson and Oliver remain under contract. With their level of play established, a curiosity exists for the rest of the position group.

Draft pick Gavin Bartholomew suffered a back injury that kept him sidelined until the final couple of weeks of the season. He returned to practice in December but was not activated.

Undrafted rookie Ben Yurosek logged 116 offensive snaps and 125 on special teams over the course of 12 contests. He impressed with a solid training camp.

Bartholomew is more of a pass-catching option, and Yurosek is probably more of a blocking tight end, but it will be interesting to watch those players work through OTAs.

The Vikings re-added Ben Sims, a former undrafted free agent, after he was waived by Green Bay. Sims has potential to offer a blend of services and is a restricted free agent.

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