CHICAGO – The Vikings on Thursday night selected Mississippi wide receiver Laquon Treadwell with the No. 23 pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
Many observers believed Minnesota would pick either Treadwell or wide receiver Josh Doctson of Texas Christian. Washington selected Doctson at No. 22, leaving Treadwell for the Vikings. Also available at No. 22 was UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, initially projected to be a top-10 pick. But Jack has some knee issues, which scared off some teams.
Treadwell had 82 receptions last season for 1,327 yards. He was initially regarded as a top-15 prospect, but likely slipped in the draft after running the 40-yard dash in a so-so 4.63 seconds March 28 at his pro day.
“On the clock, I knew he wasn’t going to be a blazer, but he plays fast,’’ Mississippi wide receivers coach Grant Heard said earlier this week. “On tape, you’ve never ever really seen him caught from behind. If you look at the tape, he plays fast, faster than a 4.6.”
