Kevin Negandhi takes a look at the top wide receivers in this year's NFL draft and explains why some analysts are predicting a record number of wideouts will be selected in the first two rounds. (2:02)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins' parting words to Stefon Diggs after the receiver was traded to the Buffalo Bills contextualized why he'll be missed.

"He's elite," Cousins said. "It sounds cliché, but I'm as good as a quarterback as the guys around me. Specifically, as the people I have to throw to. There were a lot of games where his talent makes an enormous difference. I just wanted to let him know that, and I'm sure the Bills will be thrilled to have that."

The Vikings have faced the challenge of replacing a talented receiver before, from Randy Moss to Percy Harvin. It can takes years of more misses than hits before getting it right.

2020 NFL draft coverage • All 255 picks » | Biggest takeaways »

• Bowen's favorites » | Pick analysis »

• Experts on Round 1 » | Home setups »

• Full class rankings from Scouts Inc. »

More NFL draft coverage »

But this year's deep class of wide receivers in the NFL draft gives the Vikings, who have the Nos. 22 and 25 picks in the first round, a chance to right the ship. There are five receivers with a Scouts Inc. grade of 90 or better, the most since the 2014 class, which included Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans. It's possible this draft could challenge the records for most wide receivers picked through two rounds (12 in 2014), two days (17 in 2004 and 1994) or all seven rounds (36 in 2003).

There are rookie receivers who have success -- like in 2019 with A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Terry McLaurin -- but teams usually struggle to find immediate contributors. Drafted with the 22nd overall pick in 2009, Harvin is the last Vikings first-round receiver to make significant contributions in his first season. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler.

First-round picks Cordarrelle Patterson (2013) and Laquon Treadwell (2016) never panned out, but the Vikings are hardly alone in their misses. Over the past five years, 17 receivers have been drafted in the first round and only one had more than 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season: then-Raider Amari Cooper in 2015, who was also second in the NFL in drops.

In that same span, only five first-round wideouts had more than 500 receiving yards in their rookie season between Cooper, Calvin Ridley, DJ Moore, Will Fuller and most recently Marquise Brown in 2019.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has six wide receivers coming off the board in the first round of his Mock Draft 4.0. With two first-round picks, the Vikings could address one of their biggest needs on Day 1. Players such as Arizona State's Brandon Aiyuk, Baylor's Denzel Mims and Clemson's Tee Higgins have all been mocked to the Vikings in the first round by several ESPN analysts.

Brandon Aiyuk could be one of several promising receivers available to the Vikings with one of their two first-round draft picks. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

But the Vikings might be better off using those picks elsewhere, like cornerback or offensive tackle. Minnesota, with five picks inside the top 105, may even opt to trade back out of the first round and add more picks to spend on a wideout later given how many receivers are expected to be available in the second and third rounds. It's likely going to take more than one player to replace Diggs.

"You don't have to replace Stefon Diggs in terms of his skillset or his traits or his total production," ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen said on Twin Cities affiliate SKOR North. "You have to replace him with someone who fits your scheme, someone who can win isolation routes outside, someone who can run the deep overs off of play-action. We know they're a very heavy play-action-based team in terms of their passing game in Minnesota and how they create those vacated zones downfield; someone who can make contested catches for Cousins, someone who can make plays in the red zone for Cousins."

On Days 2 and 3, the Vikings have the chance to select receivers based on how they fit the scheme rather than overall need at the position.

Diggs was one of the best downfield threats in 2019 with 15 receptions of at least 20 air yards, the second most in the NFL. TCU's Jalen Reagor is arguably the best deep threat in this class and a late second-round pick in Kiper's latest mock. Diggs' versatility allowed him to win his routes run out of the slot or as an X or Z receiver. USC's Michael Pittman Jr., a possible Day 2 pick, was one of five FBS players with 10 receiving touchdowns and 1,000 receiving yards when lined up wide last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Tyler Johnson, a potential third-rounder from the University of Minnesota, had the second-highest yards per route run from the slot (3.6) behind Alabama's Jerry Jeudy, who might be the first receiver taken in the draft.

play 0:39 Denzel Mims' NFL draft profile Former Baylor WR Denzel Mims' highlights show a terrific athlete who is a dangerous deep threat.

The round they are picked hasn't been a true indicator of the impact of rookie receivers in recent history. Since 2015, receivers drafted in the second round have averaged 542.1 snaps as rookies compared to the 373.1 played by first-rounders.

It's also possible that Diggs' replacement may already be under contract in Minnesota.

The Vikings signed former Titans receiver Tajae Sharpe to a one-year deal in free agency. Sharpe will be in the mix to earn the No. 2 receiver job opposite Adam Thielen, whose injuries limited him to 418 receiving yards in 2019.

Gary Kubiak's offenses often feature heavy use of the tight end position. Tight ends have accounted for an average of 23% of targets in Kubiak's 21 seasons as a head coach or offensive coordinator. The No. 3 receiver is often a tight end.

Play ESPN Draft Challenge for free Presented by Caesars Rewards Can you predict the draft? Answer all 18 questions correctly, and you could win $100,000! Play for free!

"The guys who have those movement skills don't grow on trees," Cousins said of Diggs. "But you can find other ways to do things. I think one great example is when we lost Adam last year for six or seven weeks, you watched our offense evolve and suddenly three tight ends were in the game quite a bit. Certainly two tight ends quite a bit. We ran the ball effectively."

Tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. accounted for just 105 of Cousins' 440 targets last season. Relying more on them, particularly Smith after a promising rookie year, is one way the Vikings expect to divvy up Diggs' targets.

"We're very fortunate ... to have two tight ends like that, two different tight ends, and what Kyle Rudolph brings to us in the red zone and some of the things he does and how much he's improved as a blocker," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said. "I think you're going to continue to see Irv step up, because he can create mismatches. If you look at our offense, and how many times we were in three-wide, compared to two tight ends. The reason we were in two tight ends a lot more was because of the physical skillset and the playmaker that Irv showed last year. He's just going to continue to develop even more."