The Facts: In past offseasons, the Vikings have doled out contract extensions to a handful of players ahead of when their current deals were set to expire. Another Viking who could be in line for an extension this offseason is Thielen. The wide receiver signed a four-year deal worth $19.246 million in 2017, which will earn him around $8 million next season. Thielen's agent, Blake Baratz, indicated a belief that an extension for the two-time Pro Bowl receiver could be reached this offseason and that it wouldn't come via a holdout by Thielen if both parties couldn't come to an agreement. "Adam's not that type of person," Baratz said of the receiver holding out. "I would never condone a player to hold out or be disruptive if it wasn't for a very valid reason, and [what's not] a valid reason, to me, is both sides working in good faith to come to a conclusion that makes sense for everybody."
Diehards Line:Thielen's record-breaking season and career highs in catches (113), yards (1,373) and touchdowns (9) have lead many, including his representation, to believe he has outplayed his current contract. At the start of last training camp, Diggs inked a five-year deal worth $72 million with a $15 million signing bonus. While it isn't clear whether those figures are what Thielen and his representation are eyeing, a similar deal would put the 28-year-old receiver among the top 10 highest paid at his position. "In a perfect world, we'd like to get something done," Baratz said. ... We'll be watching for more on that as the offseason progresses.