Mock draft expert believes the Vikings will replace one star veteran in the first round
The Minnesota Vikings have multiple difficult decisions to make on some of the team’s star veterans this offseason. In fact, one mock draft expert is predicting the Vikings will replace one of Minnesota’s fan favorites in the first round of this year’s draft. Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is one of the most curious cases […]
The Minnesota Vikings have multiple difficult decisions to make on some of the team’s star veterans this offseason. In fact, one mock draft expert is predicting the Vikings will replace one of Minnesota’s fan favorites in the first round of this year’s draft.
Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is one of the most curious cases in the 2023 offseason. Though he’s told media outlets that he is working on restructuring his deal with the Vikings, Thielen carries a whopping $19,967 million cap hit in 2023.
Thielen, who turns 33 this offseason, isn’t the player he once was. So, if the Vikings move on from him they must find a receiver who can make an impact in year one.
ESPN’s Todd McShay released his first-round draft predictions for late April’s affair. With the Vikings slotted at No. 23 overall, McShay predicts Minnesota will select USC WR Jordan Addison to fill the void that Thielen leaves behind.
Addison is absolutely a player that can jump on the scene and have an immediate impact. But in a thin draft class at receiver, relying on Addison to fall to 23rd overall is a gamble. On the other side of the coin, Addison is an athletic weapon who will come much cheaper than Thielen, no matter what a reconstructed contract might look like.
While it would be difficult to see Thielen in another team’s uniform, drafting a receiver of Addison’s caliber keeps the Vikings’ well-oiled passing attack amongst the league’s elite.
Featured image via Daniel Bartel – USA TODAY Sports
