The 2 Vikings Starters on Offense Who Appear Ready to Move On
K. Joudry
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For the most part, the Vikings offense is going to be looking pretty similar in 2023. Sure, some of the players might have signed new deals (Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson), but we’re likely to see most of the starters return. There are a pair of potential exceptions, though. There have been 2 Vikings starters who look like they may be heading elsewhere.
The 2 Vikings Starters
Now, before getting too far down the speculation path, I’ll offer a gentle reminder: the key word in the title is “appear.” All we’re doing here is looking at the current circumstances and some social media hints to help us with some purple dot connecting. In the end, we’ll need to wait and see.
With the caveat out of the way, here are the 2 Vikings starters to keep an eye on: WR Adam Thielen and TE Irv Smith Jr.
A fan favorite, Thielen will go down as one of the best receivers in franchise history. That’s no small feat given the presence of Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Justin Jefferson, Jake Reed, and Sammy White in Vikings lore.
At present, Thielen is 4th in team history in receiving yards (6682) and 3rd in receptions (534). His TDs (55) come in at 3rd overall. Not bad for an UDFA, not bad at all.
The issue, of course, is that he’s scheduled to count for nearly $20 million against the 2023 budget. He hasn’t surpassed 1,000 yards in the last 4 seasons, making it more difficult to justify such a gaudy cap charge. Adding in the fact that he’s nearing 33 doesn’t make it any easier.
Caitlin, Thielen’s wife, seemed to hint that the veteran wide receiver is preparing to head elsewhere: “And just like that the season and our time in Minnesota might be at an end. Super proud of your attitude this season and always fighting.” Not too long afterwards, she posted that her husband “wants opportunities to show what he can do and feel valued as a receiver.”
The suggestion, it would seem, is that Thielen’s role in Minnesota’s isn’t where he wants it to be.
Furthermore, second-round TE Irv Smith Jr. may have posted a farewell online. On Vikings Territory, Dustin Baker discusses the situation, noting that Smith says, “God is the Greatest! Minnesota, I love and thank you.” As Dustin suggests, it’s a statement that does require some interpreting, but it’s not difficult to arrive at a plausible conclusion.
Smith is heading toward free agency and the Vikings are a near lock to extend Hockenson to be the TE1 for the foreseeable future. Smith, meanwhile, will be looking to leverage his potential into a large contract. Unfortunately, the TE2 spot might not be a top priority for the purple and gold, so Smith may simply be acknowledging a relatively likely possibility: he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2023.
Coming into the season, Smith Jr. was the TE1 and many (yours truly included) hoped he could finally put together a great season. More than a few fantasy football managers were hoping for a similar result. Unfortunately, Smith battled ineffectiveness on the field before missing a significant portion of the season due to injury.
Moving Ahead for the Vikings Roster
Neither Thielen nor Smith Jr. are guaranteed to be playing elsewhere in 2023. That being said, the social media posts hint at a possible reality: the WR and TE could be catching passes in a different uniform in the upcoming season.
Perhaps the next most notable offensive starter to have some uncertainty is center Garrett Bradbury. Before missing time with a back injury, the C1 was enjoying his best season as a professional. Kevin O’Connell – alongside OL coach Chris Kuper – found a way to resurrect Bradbury’s career. Up until the past season, most onlookers would have labelled him a bust.
Maintaining continuity along the offensive line is a laudable goal, and yet it’s fair to wonder whether Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can afford the 27-year-old free agent.
At this point in the offseason, we’re left with a lot of uncertainty. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll gain further clarity about Thielen, Smith Jr., and Bradbury (among others).
Free agency is scheduled to begin on March 15.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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