WR Adam Thielen stays put with Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings held on to one of their own skill players on Wednesday.
After a breakout season this past fall, the Minnesota Vikings compensated wide receiver Adam Thielen with a brand new contract. Thielen was a restricted free agent, and Minnesota recently slapped a second-round tender on him.
This would have allowed the Vikings to match any offer he received from another team. If another squad happened to pluck Thielen away, Minnesota would have been compensated with a second-round selection. The tender was valued at $2.8 million for 2017, but now Thielen has reached an extension that will pay him nicely.The wideout is set to make $17 million over the next three years, with the potential to reach $27 million. The magic number for guaranteed money is $11 million (NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo):
The wideout is set to make $17 million over the next three years, with the potential to reach $27 million. The magic number for guaranteed money is $11 million (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo):
Vikings WR Adam Thielen gets $27m max over three years, source says. Base value: $17m. Was slated for $2.7m on RFA tender.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 15, 2017
The Vikings are low on offensive weapons right now, so securing a player who made it happen last year is a wise move. Thielen has developed slowly but steadily; after two seasons with a combined 20 receptions, he exploded onto the scene in 2016. This past campaign saw Thielen finish with 69 receptions for 967 yards and five touchdowns. What a great story for a local kid who was undrafted out of Minnesota State. Now, he will get to stay in the Gopher State for the next few years.
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Although Thielen is trending up for the Vikes, the rest of their offense remains a question mark. Adrian Peterson is gone, and although he may return, that seems unlikely. Outside of Thielen and Stefon Diggs, Minnesota is lacking in perimeter playmakers. Time will tell if Laquon Treadwell can get it going sooner or later because they need him to contribute. Perhaps the biggest question is at quarterback. Is Sam Bradford really the answer going forward? Sure, he played well last season and managed to stay healthy, but this is a team that faltered down the stretch. Regardless, I’m sure he is happy to have Thielen back.