Questions Answered: Trade Price for Adam Thielen, NFC North Winner, the Vikings’ Best Non-Jefferson Player

The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the July 5th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].

Questions Answered: Trade Price for Adam Thielen, NFC North Winner, the Vikings’ Best Non-Jefferson Player

Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.

Q: If the Vikings are somehow able to swing a trade for Adam Thielen, what would it cost?

Answer: Probably a 6th- or 7th-Rounder.

Last year, Thielen served as the Panthers’ WR1 and actually tallied 1,000+ yards in a season for the first time since 2018. Thielen played quite well. Now, though, Carolina has Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Lagette at the top of the WR depth chart, a situation all but certain to lessen Thielen’s workload.

And because he recently worked out with J.J. McCarthy and has told KFAN his thoughts on the young quarterback, some fans believe Thielen could find his way back to the Vikings.

Generally speaking, a Thielen trade is unlikely, but if Minnesota is interested, Thielen won’t be too expensive. He’ll turn 34 in August, and no general manager would trade much for a pass-catcher at that age.

So, a late-rounder would be the price.

Q: In your estimation, who will win the NFC North?

Answer: The Green Bay Packers.

The Lions have the best roster, at least on paper, but Detroit head coach Dan Campbell said it best after the NFC Championship collapse in January. Detroit now has a target on its back, and it will never be as easy for the Lions as it was in 2023.

Therefore, because Jared Goff isn’t utterly elite, we think the Lions will take a small step back in 2024, paving the way for Green Bay’s [unfortunate] ascension.

Detroit will finish 10-7 or so, with the Packers at 11-6.

Q: After Justin Jefferson, who’s the best player on the Vikings’ roster?

A: Christian Darrisaw.

Brian O’Neill and T.J. Hockenson might squawk a bit, but this one is solidly Darrisaw. And he will be paid accordingly before too long, likely setting the record for largest contract by an offensive tackle in NFL history.

For some reason, Darrisaw still hasn’t reached his first Pro Bowl — he is overdue … way overdue — but he’ll get the nod soon. Darrisaw joined the Vikings in 2021 and has not disappointed one iota since.

Hopefully other players emerge in 2024 and beyond to contend for “best player after Jefferson,” but because of his performance and consistency, it’s Darrisaw in the summer of 2024.

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