The Minnesota Vikings kick off preparation for the 2019 season on Monday when the players report to the spectacular facilities in Eagan for the start of offseason workouts. In 12 days, the 2019 NFL Draft opens in Nashville. Big things are happening. In advance of those big things, the Vikings got some things done. In particular, they took care of one of their own.
In 2017, Adam Thielen signed a four-year, $19.246 million contract. It didn't take long for him to outplay that contract. An arguably top-10 receiver was about 50th among receivers in compensation. He was one of the greatest bargains in the NFL.
Some numbers:
2017: 91 catches, 1276 yards, 4 TDs
2018: 113 catches, 1373 yards, 9 TDs
-2 Pro Bowls
-is one of the most productive and efficient 3rd-down receivers in the league
-tied Charlie Hennigan's NFL record of eight consecutive games of 100 yards receiving to start a season
-electrified a Minnesota fan base that can't enough of the rags-to-riches story of the undrafted local kid
Two years into a new deal, Thielen had earned a better deal. He thought so. His agent thought so. Fans were told to think that so they thought so. Most importantly, the Vikings thought so. Yesterday the Vikings and Thielen agreed to a contract extension. It's a big one. Four years, $64 million. $35 million of which is guaranteed. There are incentives that could boost the total to $73 million. Many talking heads and fans are honking about a $16 million average per season. I'm no cap expert but I don't think it plays out that way. It's an extension, so Thielen is now under contract for six years. I'm estimating that the contract has about $11 million of old money and now has $64 million of new money. I see that as a six-year deal for $75 million, or $12.5 million average per season. However it works out, Adam Thielen's pay is more in line with his production. That's a good thing. The Vikings now have the well-compensated receiving duo of Thielen and Stefon Diggs under contract through 2024. That's a very good thing.
Before Thielen's contract extension, the Vikings had about $2 million in cap space. I've seen nothing official but it's been speculated/conjectured/reported that Thielen's cap number for 2019 dropped about $3 million as a result of this extension. The Vikings can now afford to sign their draft class!
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