Analytics group Pro Football Focus (PFF) stopped in at the Minnesota Vikings’ training camp tour earlier this year. Analysts reported that Minnesota’s first-round draft choice (23rd overall pick), receiver Laquon Treadwell, dropped several passes early on and was often blanketed in coverage. One of his targeted passes was intercepted when “the cornerback basically ran the route for Treadwell.”
PFF thinks Treadwell’s strengths are short routes, especially slants, and producing yards after catch and contact. He struggles to separate from defensive backs on intermediate and deep routes. While they felt Treadwell would be an immediate starter, they expected that Stefon Diggs would remain the No. 1 wide receiver, at least for now.
That didn’t happen.
In week 1, Treadwell didn’t play a single snap, and he’s reportedly “progressing slower than expected.” Did he not play because he was injured?
No.
Treadwell was indeed active, but he apparently just isn’t good enough to warrant any snaps.
“He still has work to do. We still have to keep getting him going,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “As you’ve seen, [Stefon] Diggs was inactive for [the first] three weeks last year. We’re trying to do things right … and get [Treadwell] ready to go when the time is correct. I think all these young guys — not just him but all these guys — need to learn about professional football a little bit. It’s not like you just come in and you’re the best player on the field right now.”
There you have it. Treadwell is Minnesota’s Davante Adams. The difference being, the Packers send Adams out on the field regardless of whether he belongs there.