Vikings' Adam Thielen Calls Stefon Diggs Trade 'A Bummer'

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen said Thursday he'll miss playing alongside Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Buffalo Bills in March.

Thielen talked about the departure of his wideout running mate during an appearance on KFAN Radio (via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press).

"Obviously, it's a bummer that he's not here because it was such a fun duo to be able to work off one another and things like that, whether it be practice or games," he said. "So, I'm definitely going to miss that, but it will be fun to see him have success somewhere else."

Thielen and Diggs spent the past five years together, usually operating as the Vikings' top two targets. Now Thielen will be the unquestioned top option in Minnesota, while Diggs takes over as the No. 1 weapon in the Buffalo passing game ahead of John Brown and Cole Beasley.

"I have so much respect for him of how hard he works, how he approaches the game of football," Thielen told KFAN about Diggs. "I've learned so much from him as far as a receiver, how to run routes, different things like that. ...We've talked since he got traded. ... He is one of my good friends and will be for the rest of our lives."

Although Diggs' on-field debut in Buffalo is delayed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic, which led the NFL to postpone all offseason team activities, Bills quarterback Josh Allen said they've started to develop a bond by playing Call of Duty.

"I'm still pumped about it. I'm still floating on cloud nine," Allen told reporters last week. "I can't wait to get to work with him. Obviously, with all this stuff going around, traveling and trying to get in touch, that's going to be a little delayed, but I just want to get back to work."

Meanwhile, the Vikings could use the first-round pick they got as part of the package from Buffalo to find a replacement for Diggs in a receiver-rich draft class.

Minnesota features Thielen and a solid tight end duo in Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr., but it could use a second wideout who can stretch the field.

The Vikes have three picks inside the top 60 (Nos. 22, 25 and 58), which gives them the resources to move up in the first round if they want to land one of the class' best outside weapons: Alabama's Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III along with Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb.

They could also stand pat, grab a second-tier receiving prospect with one of those choices and find upgrades at other areas of need, such as an edge-rusher or someone in the secondary.