To be a successful undrafted free agent in the NFL is one thing. To do it on the team you grew up rooting for is magical.

Born and raised in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen was a die hard Vikings fan in his youth, so much so that he would often imitate his idol Cris Carter on tiptoe catches in his backyard. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, and enjoyed a successful career at Minnesota State.

Undrafted in 2013, Thielen stuck around with his hometown Vikings for a few years, mostly seeing action on special teams (being awarded the team’s Special Team’s Player of the Year in 2015) while rarely seeing any time as a receiver. In 2014 and 2015 he had 281 yards on 20 catches.

What would happen in 2016 finally resulted in a breakout year for the Minnesota resident. In the first four games of the season, he saw more targets, and with Stefon Diggs out for the fifth game against the Texans, he finally showed what he could do. For that game, Thielen put up 127 yards and a touchdown on 7 catches, and went on to lead the team in receiving yards (967).

Going into week 9 this season, Adam Thielen is second only to Antonio Brown in receiving yards with 627 and is 4th in yards per game (78.4). It’s clear he’s cemented himself as one of the Vikings’ most valuable players, and as far as 2017 goes, few receivers are playing better than him.

What #19 is doing is not a fluke. He’s not a receiver that requires his quarterback to throw to him perfectly into tight windows, nor is he a receiver that drops the ball whenever he gets opportunities. Instead, Thielen has established himself as one of the top vertical threats in the league with polish and technique.

The first thing to stand out about Thielen is his ball skills. Because of his size (6 ft 2, 200 lb), he has a big frame to throw to, going along with his wide catch radius.

This catch looks easier than it actually is. The receiver is open but the throw is too high. Most receivers would stop their stride and momentum to make this catch, but Thielen not only makes the catch, but keeps his stride going, using smooth execution to run as if it were a routine play.

Especially under Case Keenum, Thielen has been consistently asked to make difficult adjustment to what should be easy passes for the quarterback. This play is no exception, as Keenum forces an inaccurate pass despite a clean pocket. Fortunately, the receiver makes it work out. Thielen is able to use his athleticism to dive, grab the ball, and pull it into his body to complete the process of a catch. He eats bad throws for breakfast.

While he only has one touchdown on the year, this is not something you can put on Thielen. He’s had opportunities to find the end zone, but Keenum has regularly forced him to adjust on his accuracy. On this play, Thielen uses great technique to separate. He pushes off his left foot at the top of his route, allowing him to separate outside and create an open window for his quarterback.

This is not an easy catch to make. Not only is the throw wide, but as the receiver turns around, he’s only given a split second to react to the throw. This is what makes Thielen a great receiver. Much like Everson Griffen on snaps, his timing on the catch is perfect. He’s a smart, quick thinking athlete, which has allowed him to separate and create yards that shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Thielen regularly gets positioned both outside and in the slot. It doesn’t matter where he’s put because he will dominate with his expertise at route running.

As he has played better as each week comes and goes, Thielen’s route running is to the point where it’s one of the best in football. The way he’s able to create separation downfield reminds me of guys like Doug Baldwin and Antonio Brown in how polished he is. On this play, he cuts outside, drawing the interest of the corner in man coverage. The way he pushes off without breaking down his mechanics creates an easy, quick throw for the quarterback, one that results in a first down and the continuation of the drive.

On this play, the receiver executes a double move Jordy Nelson would be proud of. However, Keenum was under pressure when this happened, resulting in a throw that asked Thielen to make a ridiculous body adjusting catch. Because of his route, ball skills, size, and security, he hauls in what could be the most impressive catch of his career.

Conclusion

Barely any receiver can say they are playing better football than Adam Thielen. What makes it more impressive is that he’s putting up big numbers with poor quarterback play, as he has made himself one of the more reliable targets in the league.

Everything that Thielen does is stellar. His route running is refined and precise, he can separate easily, has great pass catching abilities, and wonderful timing on inaccurate throws. He’s been able to do this without losing his stride or having his mechanics break down.

But more importantly, he’s playing lights out on the team he grew up rooting for in the state he grew up in. An undrafted hometown hero becoming one of the better receivers in the league is a dream come true, and #19 has accomplished this.

Adam Thielen isn’t just a good receiver; he’s become a great one. With him paired alongside Diggs, the Vikings once again have one of the most lethal receiving duos in the league.