Report: Vikings are working with Thielen on a restructure

The 2021 NFL Free Agency period is upon us and while the Minnesota Vikings have some money to work with (or did, prior to the Dalvin Tomlinson move), it’s clear that they need to clear up more space before all is said and done this off-season.

Thankfully, they have reportedly convinced the formerly reluctant Anthony Barr to restructure his deal. However, if this report from Mike Florio is to be believed, Barr is (to quote a line from ‘The Dark Knight’) is just the beginning.

Oh, and the suit wasn’t cheap, you oughta know you bought it!

Florio said on his site, Pro Football Talk (and per a “league source”:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/15/vikings-have-had-initial-discussions-with-adam-thielen-about-a-restructuring/

“Under contract for four more years, the Vikings could convert a large chunk of Thielen’s $11.1 million salary into a signing bonus. With the minimum salary at $1.075 million, $10.025 million could become a bonus. Adding a voidable year would cut the cap number from the payment to $2 million for 2021, creating more than $8 million in cap space.”

Thielen may not seem like the obvious choice for a restructure as he’s a mainstay of this Vikings team and is coming off of a huge 2020 in which he nearly averaged a touchdown a game and acted as a mentor for superstar receiver then-rookie Justin Jefferson. 

That, combined with his age (he’ll be 31 before the season starts), may make Thielen less marketable in the minds of Vikings management. However, this organization lucked out when they landed Jefferson in return for Diggs last off-season. 

Considering how long, hard and unsuccessful their search for a third receiver has been lo these many years, it’s unrealistic to think that the Vikings without Thielen would be anything but an unmitigated disaster for the Vikings off and on the field. 

“…But wait Joe you moron! Why are you talking about the Vikings without Thielen when they’re simply discussing a run-of-the-mill restructure?”

Welp, when you’re a league like the NFL that pays out far less and in far less guaranteed money than other professional leagues (not to mention the grievous bodily harm situation), it isn’t exactly an olive branch to constantly force core players to re-do their deals.

“…But wait Joe, you idiot! They’re giving more guaranteed money over more years in a lot of these situation (or offering more as a “signing bonus”)! “

That’s a valid point, however, with Minnesota being a high tax state, it makes more sense for the players to spread their earnings over those 8-away games (with the hope that they’d play a lot of games against the AFC/NFC South). 

Either way, ever the consummate team player, Thielen seems to be going along with this restructure for now. I can’t imagine a lot of blue chip free agents coming to a team that negotiates in bad faith by offering large deals that they plan to restructure down the road. 

Especially when the Vikings’ quarterback is on-track to make $45 million in 2022 while, as far as we know as members of the media/fans, not being asked to restructure. That lends itself to Kirk Cousins’ last extension, where he for more guaranteed money down the road if he was willing to agree to the above. 

That means the Vikings have no leverage as if they were to cut Cousins he would leave team killing dead cap money the next two seasons especially. 

Thielen’s current 2021 cap number is nearly $13.5m in 2021 and $14.5m in 2022, with a dead cap hit of $5.4m and $3.6m respectively. Compare that to Cousins’ $41m dead cap in 2021 and you get what I mean.

Stay tuned to UFFda! Sports for all your Free Agency news, including our new general NFL news site FranchiseTagged.com! 

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