Mock draft replaces a departed fan favorite

The Vikings could replace fan-favorite Adam Thielen as early as this draft, plucking a talented wide receiver to play second fiddle in the offense.

The Minnesota Vikings felt a lot of “Thielens” after parting ways with their homegrown wideout, but they knew it was time for him to go.

Bad puns aside, the newest and youngest member of the 2023 Vikings squad could turn out to be a top receiver prospect ready to step into Adam Thielen’s shoes.

With the 23rd overall pick in the upcoming draft, Minnesota’s biggest areas of concern are all over the place: the Vikings could feasibly use their first-round pick on any position from quarterback to corner to running back. The wide receiver unit, which currently consists of Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and Jalen Reagor, could also use some reinforcements, especially given Reagor’s less-than-impressive chemistry with Cousins in 2022.

In a diverse pool of talented pass-catching threats, NBC Sports Edge’s Kyle Dvorchak had the Vikings take Boston College’s Zay Flowers early. Here’s why:

After cutting Adam Thielen, the Vikings are set to start K.J. Osborn as their second wideout and …Jalen Reagor at WR3. They would add a free agent if they left the first day of the draft without a receiver, but I doubt they want to go down that road. Flowers will take over slot duties and plays with enough physical to move outside when necessary.

Clearly, few around the league are confident about Reagor’s future and may not believe he will ever live up to his first-round potential. The Vikings’ trade with the Eagles may not age well, but Minnesota can start its course correction early and take Flowers who would potentially supplant Reagor for that third wideout spot.

Vikings could draft Boston WR Zay Flowers to absorb Adam Thielen’s old snaps

Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Flowers’ stock is on the rise this offseason. Compared to the other top receiving prospects (Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison, Jalin Hyatt, etc.) Flowers wasn’t equipped with an elite quarterback or part of a winning collegiate program. Boston College went 3-9 in 2022, yet Flowers put together one of his career-best seasons that year (1,000-plus receiving yards, double-digit touchdowns) and proved he could thrive in spite of his insipid supporting cast.

Entering the NFL, Flowers can make an immediate impact as a slot guy (his closest draft comparison is Tyler Lockett) and would help the Vikings forget all about Thielen by the time the new season rolls around. He’s a dynamic YAC monster and chain-mover, and his physical build makes him perfect for the slot role.

So far this offseason, Flowers has visited the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Dallas Cowboys, teams that hold picks ranging from No. 7 overall to No. 26 overall.

That just gives you a sign of how much his draft projection varies, so it wouldn’t seem like a reach for the Vikings to take him at 23rd overall.

Flowers may lack that intangible emotional connection that Thielen held with the Vikings fanbase, but in due time, he can develop into the feisty and explosive threat that Minnesota need to elevate its passing attack. The healing from Adam Thielen’s heartbreaking departure starts now.