Adam Thielen is the best Minnesota Vikings wide receiver

If we learned anything during Saturday’s loss to the Packers, it’s that Adam Thielen is absolutely the Minnesota Vikings’ number one wide receiver.

We love you Stefon Diggs, but Adam Thielen is definitely the number one receiver in Minnesota. Thielen is everything the Minnesota Vikings have needed in a wide receiver since Percy Harvin was in his prime. He’s got speed, makes tough catches, is a stout route-runner, and can stretch the field. If you think about it, Thielen really compares to a younger, quicker version of Jordy Nelson.

If there was anything missing from Thielen’s resume before, it was an offensive performance of epic proportions. He certainly check the box on Saturday with 12 receptions for 202 yards and a two touchdowns. Suffice to say, even the casual fans now know who Adam Thielen is now.

I’ll say it now, “deceptive” is the best way to describe Thielen’s game.

Dec 24, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches a pass over Green Bay Packers cornerback Quinten Rollins (24) in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via USA TODAY Sports

His big play on the day was a 71-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. It was a monster highlight and microcosm of what Adam Thielen brings to the field.

Thielen sold Quinten Rollins and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a stop route. Both players bit and Thielen struck, bursting further up the sideline for a wide open catch and run. Rollins and Clinton-Dix crashed into each other in the process.

The bottom line is the Minnesota Vikings have to sign Adam Thielen as their top receiver for the foreseeable future. The ability to move forward with Thielen and Diggs is incredible for a franchise that recently struck out on Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace deals. It would also keep the Vikings from spending top draft picks on receivers for a while. That doesn’t go without saying I was no fan of the Laquon Treadwell pick last April.

It shouldn’t take an incredible sum to lock up Thielen due to his relatively small sample size as a top receiver. We’ve seen flashes from Thielen this year, but I can’t imagine he’s looking for Julio Jones-type money. Even Julian Edelman will only make about $4.5M this season. But if the Vikings don’t act, there’s plenty of other teams that will be willing to negotiate with Adam Thielen. I’m sure Bill Belichick would salivate to add such a player.