The Thielen Path Gets Another Traveller as Vikings Add a Local Receiver
K. Joudry
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The Thielen path has found a new traveller.
Yesterday, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson confirmed that WR Garett Maag has signed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. The Wolfson tweet was in response to the initial word form Tanner Phifer, who first noted the news on Twitter.
The Thielen Path and Garett Maag
Seeing as how Maag is from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, plenty of Vikings fans will instinctively make the connection to Thielen. The veteran is from Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. It took some time (alongside plenty of hard work, effort, and competition), but Thielen eventually distinguished himself as being among the team’s best receivers and, indeed, the league more broadly.
By the time he was cut, Adam Thielen had put up some tremendous numbers over his nine seasons catching footballs for Minnesota. His 534 catches are 3rd in team history, his 6682 receiving yards are 4th in team history, and his 55 TDs come in at 3rd.
Not bad for a local kid who was scraping and clawing his way onto the team.
Garett Maag will hope for a similar progression in his NFL career. During his college years, Maag played for North Dakota. He stands at a towering 6’4″, possessing the kind of length that coaches covet for their receivers. Can’t teach size, folks.
The competition at receiver is pretty ferocious. Justin Jefferson isn’t letting go of his WR1 spot anytime soon and Jordan Addison is a recent 1st-round addition. K.J. Osborn is still in town and there’s reason to believe Jalen Nailor can be a wonderful WR4. Otherwise, there’s just eight more receivers Maag will need to overcome.
That’s right: Maag is now the 13th WR on the depth chart.
In all likelihood, the receiver is going to need to prove to the coaching staff that he’s a special teams standout. If he shows himself capable of incredible blocking and tackling, Garett Maag could justify a spot as the WR5 or WR6. If he can excel as a returner, he’ll get a humongous boost to his chance of making the final roster.
And, of course, he’ll want to show that he has the potential to develop into a contributor on offense. Expecting him to make plays in 2023 is unrealistic, but showing potential isn’t out of the question. The team must have seen something in him. If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have filled the roster spot left behind by Ben Ellefson’s retirement with the young WR.
Currently, the Vikings are conducting OTAs. Next up will be mandatory mini camp and training camp. The more time passes, the more the offseason competition will intensify. Garett Maag will have his shot to prove he belongs.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
