Josh Oliver

Oliver signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Vikings in what was a surprise considering the large role T.J. Hockenson played in the second half of last season. In 35 career games, Oliver has caught only 26 passes for 230 yards, so he likely won't threaten Hockenson for targets. Instead, Oliver's focus will be on improving Minnesota's run blocking.

Baltimore turned up the heat on Oliver this offseason by spending a pair of fourth-round selections on tight ends Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely in the draft. Oliver, a 2019 third-round pick in his own right, caught nine of 15 targets for 66 yards over 14 games and 147 snaps in his first season in Baltimore. Nick Boyle's absence helped Oliver see some playing time, but he is expected to be a bigger contributor this season. With a pair of touted rookies along with Boyle and one of the league's best in Mark Andrews, playing time may be hard to come by for Oliver again in 2022.

Oliver appeared to have a chance to compete for significant playing time entering his rookie campaign, but he missed the first six games with a hamstring injury and later landed on injured reserve with small fractures in his back. The 2019 third-round pick appeared in only four games and caught three passes for 15 yards. Tyler Eifert signed as a free agent and is poised to start after appearing in all 16 games for the first time in his career last season. Oliver was expected to battle James O'Shaughnessy for the No. 2 job, but a foot injury during training camp sent Oliver to injured reserve instead.

Oliver had fantastic production during his senior season at San Jose State with 56 receptions for 709 yards and four touchdowns, leading to his selection in the third round of April's draft. He couldn't have landed in a better spot for a chance to compete immediately, as free-agent acquisition Geoff Swaim should enter training camp as the starter. Swaim certainly has more experience, but still has only 336 receiving yards through his first four seasons and is hardly a lock to take on the starting role. At 6-5, 249, Oliver ran a 4.63 40-yard dash and has a 34-inch vertical, so the raw talent is there for him to at least serve as a decent red-zone option in his rookie campaign should he be unable to supplant Swaim as the starter. However, those efforts may need to wait until after the start of the regular season since Oliver suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp.