Vikings OC: Offseason 'very critical' for Treadwell

Laquon Treadwell was widely lauded as the most pro-ready wide receiver in last year's draft, and there were high expectations for him after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 23rd overall pick.

However, Treadwell fell far short of those expectations in his rookie season, finishing the campaign with just one catch for 15 yards.

With the Vikings set to potentially lose several veteran contributors at receiver in free agency, Treadwell has the opportunity to kick-start his career this offseason, which offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur described as "very critical" for the 21-year-old.

"That connection between the quarterback and skill position players is really important," Shurmur said last week, according to Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune. "And that chemistry is really built in the offseason when you get the chance to slow it down, run the individual routes in the concepts.

"(Treadwell) is going to be like any young player that's going from year one to year two. This is going to be an offseason that is very critical," Shurmur added. "He's had a chance now to go through the process once. He'll have a feel for what it's going to feel like and we're anticipating he's going to come back and be raring to go and make great improvements."

Injuries played a big part in Treadwell's struggles, and Shurmur said he saw enough from the young pass-catcher to be optimistic about his future.

"He came in and kind of had little nagging things that kind of kept him from full time early," Shurmur said. "But when he got in the games, the things he did well when he got in the game, he didn't get targeted often, but he blocked well and he competed. That's really the starting point for any young player."