The 2013 NFL Draft will be remembered as one of the last classes to have someone other than a quarterback be the top pick as an offensive player. The class as a whole in the first round was not very deep and had a lot of projects. While some players turned into All-Pros and can have some arguments to be in the Hall of Fame, others were out of the league very quickly.
That is why when PFF got to this class in their re-draft series, we knew it was going to be interesting to see how it unfolded.
Advertisement
The top pick was offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who went to the Kansas City Chiefs; second overall was Luke Joeckel, who the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted. After them, though, some names could have been in those spots in hindsight.
In this exercise, though, we are focused on the Vikings-related folks, which brings us to fan favorite Adam Thielen. He went undrafted in 2013; he did not in this re-draft. Sadly for Vikings fans, he is long gone before the team gets on the clock because Trevor Sikkema has him going eighth overall to the Buffalo Bills.
Sikkema writes, “Thielen was the ultimate underdog as a little-known player from Minnesota State who made his name with his hometown Vikings. He has racked up more than 8,600 receiving yards, including postseason play, with two Pro Bowl selections. His 90.2 career PFF receiving grade trails only Doug Baldwin and Wes Welker for the highest figure by an undrafted wide receiver in the PFF era.”
Thielen was Mr. Consistency for the Vikings during his tenure, and now in Carolina, he is doing it all over again. He has developed a connection with Bryce Young and has become his safety valve option, helping to save his development in the process.
Advertisement
2025 may be his last ride, but for Vikings fans, he will always have a special place in their hearts, and not the hearts of Bills fans, despite the alternate history laid out by PFF.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings fan favorite goes much earlier in 2013 NFL re-draft