The Minnesota Vikings' passing game struggles haven't been the fault of the wide receivers.
They have one of the best WR groups in football, led by Justin Jefferson and also including Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor.
They might have a tough call to make this offseason, though.
Nailor is set to be a free agent, and it's not clear the Vikings will pay him.
"The 2022 sixth-round pick is on pace for a career year as the Vikings' No. 3 receiver," ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote on Friday. "He has only 20 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns, but coaches and players have pointed out how frequently he is open. However, the Vikings are paying Jefferson $35 million per year, and Addison could be extended this offseason. Unless the Vikings part ways with Addison, who was suspended for the first three games of the season, it's unlikely they commit much to re-sign Nailor."
The Vikings are also set to lose the veteran Adam Thielen to free agency, so that's double the slot receiver depth that could depart.
A few years ago, Minnesota might've been able to keep Nailor for pretty cheap. Slot receivers rarely got big paydays.
But last offseason, Khalil Shakir signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Buffalo Bills that set up a new market for slot guys.
Nailor wouldn't command the money Shakir did, but he'd be looking at a solid raise, and as the Vikings consider where the rest of their WR contracts are going, they may not be able to afford it.
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