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Minnesota Vikings: Mike Wallace a welcome spark

By Ben Ryan

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The newest addition to the Minnesota Vikings came on Friday evening after being very quiet throughout the first week of the NFL free agency. After close to a week after the NFL free agency opened up, the Vikings have finally made some noise which will ease the tensions of angry fans. It’s not another boring off-season, the games have just begun.

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On Friday, March 13, the Vikings traded for former Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace. The speedy receiver runs quickly through the defenses of all teams and acts as a wonderful deep threat. The Vikings have certainly lacked that as of the past few years.

Wallace has failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the past three years, but, has shown he can be your number one guy. Since the Vikings have yet to have a true number one guy, Wallace fits the role quite nicely.  He had 10 touchdowns and 862 receiving yards in the 2014 season. Now, with Teddy Bridgewater coming into his second year, its almost a guarantee that he’ll be looking for him compared to other teams first guy on the depth chart. Just in case you forgot what Wallace can do.

The Vikings may have traded for him, but the question is what did they give up? Well, the glory of it is that they only traded a fifth round pick, and gained a seventh round pick as well. At this point, this trade could very well end up being a steal for the Vikings. Even though Wallace had some attitude troubles on the Dolphins, his ego and cockiness could really bring the spark that the Vikings need.

Wallace will easily bring speed and open up the eyes of teams secondary in the upcoming 2015 season, but now there’s the thought brewing inside the minds of football fans; will the Vikings draft a wide receiver? The idea of bringing in one of the big three receivers such as Devante Parker sounded great until Wallace came along. Parker would rejoin Bridgewater as they were a dynamic duo in Louisville. Will there be a need for Parker? Given that Amari Cooper and Kevin White are gone. The idea of it still doesn’t sound too bad, considering that the Vikings also just released veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings.

Releasing Jennings was probably the best decision for the Vikings. After all, he really didn’t have any trade value, so saving the cap room could also allow them to do more in free agency. Out with the old, in with the new they say. Although Wallace isn’t considered “new” to the league, he’s 28 years old.

Oct 27, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) runs against the New England Patriots during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

There has also been rumors that the Vikings are interested in trading away receiver Cordarelle Patterson. This would be an interesting move if it were to happen, drafting a receiver wouldn’t be so bad after all. Patterson, drafted in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, has not been as promising as the Viking would’ve liked.

After a solid rookie year, Patterson didn’t do too much in the 2014 season. Having 33 receptions for 384 yards and one touchdown…in 16 games. Not the season anybody wants.

Back to Wallace, his best seasons were with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Having back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in the 2010, and 2011 seasons, the Vikings can only hope that he can do that for them.

Bridgewater can be dangerous and is extremely accurate; if he can make sure he hits Wallace on the deep routes, defenses will have a lot of trouble with this combo, and that’s an understatement. With a great addition with him, the Vikings are definitely on the right path to rebuilding their offense.

Next: Could Ridley be an option?

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