When the 2020 season quickly became hostile to the Minnesota Vikings, many trade rumors circulated, affecting almost every player on the list – even those considered untouchable.
Kirk Cousins, Harrison Smith and Danielle Hunter, all graced the rumored business negotiations. Unsurprisingly, the rumors did not materialize, as everyone who was not called Yannick Ngakoue remained standing still. Ngakoue – who played for the Vikings for seven weeks – was sent to the Baltimore Ravens for a third round draft pick.
Adam Thielen was also whispered during the buzz of the auction. At 30, Thielen is approaching the age when he begins a subtle decline in skills or emulates Larry Fitzgerald and plays forever.
A performance-related decline was not on the agenda for Thielen in 2020. Along with newcomer Justin Jefferson, Thielen snatched almost 1,000 reception yards and a career record of 14 touchdowns. If Thielen had been shot as DeAndre Hopkins or Stefon Diggs, he would have snapped north of 20 touchdowns – which is close to Randy Moss’s 2007 NFL record (23).
But the offseason of the Vikings 2020 will involve some elements of change. The team already has new offensive, special coordinators and defensive backs. Difficult decisions about the future of Kyle Rudolph, Anthony Harris and Riley Reiff hover.
What about Thielen? Well, he probably shies away from any upside-down contractual business, and here’s why.
35th best NFL player in 2020
Adam Thielen is no longer underestimated or underestimated. That bothered him until 2018 or later, but now he is seen nationally as a formidable and reliable pass catcher.
Pro Football Focus decided that Thielen was the 35th best player in the league in 2020. 1,696 active players participate in games on a regular NFL Sunday, and that makes Thielen’s ranking a big deal.
In Thielen, Sam Monson from PFF commented:
“With Justin Jefferson putting together the kind of season he did when he was a Minnesota rookie, it’s easy to ignore Adam Thielen or the fact that he had 14 touchdowns this season. Thielen took just under 70% of passes thrown at him and generated a pass rating of 120.5 for Kirk Cousins on his targets. He remains one of the best route runners in the game and is also capable of making spectacular moves at the receiving point. Thielen may not have had a career in receptions or yards, but he stood out in the chances he had. “
Kudos to the Minnesota state alumnus. It is a respect like this that considers it unlikely that the Vikings will negotiate Thielen or fundamentally restructure their contract. Simply put – Thielen is considered the sixth best NFL wide receiver by the PFF. Why the hell would Minnesota want to remove that player gauge from its orbit? Particularly in a league that tends to be happier each season.
11th highest paid WR in the league
Equal pay for equal work: this is described in a nutshell by Adam Thielen. His yard production declined slightly when Justin Jefferson emerged fiercely last season. Minnesota doesn’t play football as much as other franchises, so Jefferson and Thielen revealed the targets. And Jefferson received a little more attention.
But not in the red zone. Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill were the only two wide receivers to score more touchdowns than Thielen in 2020. At 30, Thielen’s talent for scoring is increasing – which is a tremendously good omen for the rest of his career. If he turns into a heavyweight touchdown guy annually, well, he can play until the late 30s.
Thielen developed his dexterity to score in 2018, and was not an outlier. Since 2018, he has scored 29 touchdowns, losing 15% of games. Behind Adams and Hill, Thielen ranks third in receiving touchdowns during the past three seasons (when Kirk Cousins arrived in Minneapolis).
The seven-year-old veteran Vikings is the 11th highest paid player in the entire league for average annual salary ($ 16.2 million). It would be difficult to find a fairer wage rating for Thielen. He is almost at the stadium for the 10th or 11th best wideout in the NFL and is therefore compensated accordingly. That simple.
A lovely guy who stands still
Thielen’s contract and job will remain as they are because he deserves them. Statistical production and consistency in the field state that its monetary value is equitable.
Plus, he’s a fan favorite – without a doubt. Can you imagine Thielen wearing a helmet without white horns? Take a minute to imagine this. He’s a foreigner.
Several areas for contractual adjustments will be evaluated across the list over the coming months. Based on value and production, Thielen is expected to enter 2021 with the contract untouched.
