Minnesota Vikings Signing WR Dede Westbrook To Help Cousins, Jefferson

Free agent WR Dede Westbrook will be signing with the Minnesota Vikings after visiting the team on Friday. After four seasons in Jacksonville, the 27-year-old Westbrook still has plenty left to offer since leading the 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars in yards, catches and touchdowns.

Westbrook's 2020 season was cut short after tearing his ACL in Week 7, but still appeared on numerous teams' radars throughout the offseason. With speed and hands to continually nab targets, Westbrook will be a welcome boost to an offense that displayed solid ability to gain yards on offense in 2020. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished eight in total passing yards and the Vikings offense finished third in yards per game.

Drafting Justin Jefferson out of LSU to help supply the targets, catches and big play touchdowns left by Stefon Diggs' move to Buffalo, the first-year wideout gained 1,400 receiving yards, which was fourth-best in the league.

Diggs' first season in Buffalo benefitted greatly from the near-MVP season on behalf of quarterback Josh Allen. The WR led the league with 1,535 receiving yards, which would surely make the Vikings regretful of his departure if not for Jefferson's stellar rookie year.

Still utilizing a soon-to-be-32 Adam Thielen, the complementary receiver proved his own worth — post-Diggs — after catching 14 touchdowns, the third-best total in the NFL.

With the addition of a fully healthy Dede Westbrook, the Vikings' offense may once again turn into a humming, well-oiled machine for yards on offense in the upcoming season.