Vikings Veteran Named “Best Value” Pick by PFF
K. Joudry
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According to a recent piece, Adam Thielen represents the best value Minnesota has gotten from their picks since 2006. Here’s the thing, though: Thielen wasn’t even a draft pick. Nay, the star receiver was brought in as an undrafted free agent.
PFF offers their reasoning for why they chose the receiver:
Getting any playing time out of an undrafted free agent is good value, let alone multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He was a bit of a late breakout as a 26-year-old in 2016, which is why his prime was so short-lived, but for that handful of seasons, the Vikings’ offense ran through Thielen.
It’s certainly fair to say that Adam Thielen’s best days occurred in his late twenties. That being said, fans ought not totally discount the possibility of him thriving in 2022. For the first time in his career, Thielen won’t be playing for Mike Zimmer. Instead, he’ll have Kevin O’Connell as a head coach. The hope is that the new HC makes it easy for his WRs to find room on the field.
Some other great value selections that could have been considered include Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, and even Justin Jefferson. Jefferson probably wouldn’t find himself on a value list since he was a first rounder. Even still, we mustn’t forget that a re-draft of his year would feature him going, at worst, top 5. It’s possible that if Hunter had stayed healthy these past two years and was as dominant as before, he’d have snagged the spot over Thielen. He’s a legit #1 edge rusher when healthy.
The most recent draft featured Kwesi Adofo-Mensah making ten picks. Forced to guess right now, I’d say Andrew Booth Jr. has the best shot at being the best value pick. It was injury – not ability – that led to him being available in the middle of the second. If he can stay healthy and live up to his potential, Booth Jr. will become a CB1 in the NFL.
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