EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Teddy Bridgewater hasn't had much opportunity to throw to Laquon Treadwell yet, but the 2014 first-round pick has been impressed by the 23rd overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
"He's going to be big for this team," Bridgewater told Vikings.com's Mike Wobschall after a voluntary workout Tuesday. "There's a reason that we drafted him in the first round.
"He's been here with us for two days now, and he's been looking good," Bridgewater added. "I'm not qualified to judge players and things like that, but from what I've been seeing, I've been pretty impressed."
Bridgewater also said he's enjoyed seeing a more familiar face, center John Sullivan, back on the practice field this offseason.
Sullivan, who has made 93 career starts, missed the entire 2015 season with a back injury.
"He's been working extremely hard, and I'm glad he's back out there," Bridgewater said.
The interview started off the field with Bridgewater's pick to win the NBA Western Conference Finals and ended with thoughts of going overseas.
"OKC. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook," Bridgewater said.
Build and rebuild
In addition to Bridgewater, tight end Kyle Rudolph and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn also addressed a handful of topics, including building on last season's NFC North title and squaring off against division rivals.
Although Minnesota is coming off an 11-5 campaign and the aforementioned division title, Rudolph said the Vikings have gone back to the basics this offseason.
"For us, it's just about laying a foundation," said Rudolph, who led the team with five touchdown catches in 2015. "Building on what we did last year but the only way to build on that is to start over.
"Every season is its new entity and we have to lay the foundation and May and June in the time to do it," he added.
Rudolph said with many key offensive players entering their third season in Vikings Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner's offense, a key element has been focusing on the small details.
"You look at the core of our offense and this our third year in the same system," Rudolph said. "The most important thing for us is having a beginner's mentality.
"Don't let the fact that we've been in the system for three years allow us to overlook tiny details," he added. "You have to approach it as if you've never seen it before."
Nose to the grindstone
The Vikings have been hard at work for the past four weeks under the direction of new strength and conditioning coach Brent Salazar.
Players talked in late April about how strenuous Salazar's workouts are, something cornerback Captain Munnerlyn emphasized again on Tuesday.
"It's not easy at all, especially with a new strength and conditioning coach," Munnerlyn said. "He's working us and getting us in better shape.
"I'm excited for this upcoming year to see how much we grow from last year," he added.
On a personal level, Munnerlyn said he is confident after a bounce-back season in 2015.
After spending the first five years of his career in Carolina, Munnerlyn said it took him time to adapt to Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's defense, adding he had to focus a lot on his footwork.
"I was stuck in my same ways and didn't buy in," Munnerlyn said. "In 2015 I bought in and had guys like Terence Newman talking to me … I had to believe in myself and practice more and study a little bit harder."
Stacking up against the NFC North
With Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson choosing to retire this offseason, the title of best wide receiver in the division is up for grabs.
Munnerlyn said that when he thinks of the toughest wide receivers group to go against, he starts with the Vikings biggest rival.
"You definitely have to look at Green Bay," Munnerlyn said. "Jordy Nelson is coming back from an ACL tear.
"And Randall Cobb and the young guy they have in (Davante) Adams," he added. "They definitely have a tough group."
Munnerlyn didn't discount the Bears or Lions, however, as each has some playmakers of their own.
"You can't forget about Chicago," Munnerlyn said. "Their rookie didn't play at all last year in Kevin White, and you have Alshon Jeffery, my college teammate."
"There's definitely some tough guys out there in Detroit, and they're missing a big key in Megatron, but they've got Golden Tate," Munnerlyn added. "They're young but getting better and better every day."
