5 bold predictions for Minnesota Vikings in 2021

2. Adam Thielen will catch fewer than 50 passes

Thielen started to cede ground to Jackson as the team’s top wide receiver down the stretch last year. There’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue during the 2021 campaign.

Thielen will still be an important part of Minnesota’s aerial attack, but he’s going to start to lose speed and quickness as he plays his age-30 season. He’s never been overly reliant on athleticism, but he’s going to become relatively easy for good defensive backs to cover if he loses any meaningful amount of speed or quickness due to age-related regression.

That’s why he will struggle to even hit the 50 catch plateau this season. That will signal an aggressive drop-off for the former Pro Bowl wideout, but that’s what happens to receivers as they enter their 30s.

Part of this prediction is based on the belief that Minnesota will spend another relatively high draft pick on a young receiver to add more balance to their passing game. If they hit on another more dynamic option, it’s going to cause Thielen to lose serious target share for a second consecutive season. His time as a star in Minnesota is quickly coming to an end.