Vikings trade for Adam Thielen is a massive home run and it extends to one area you wouldn't expect

The Vikings didn't just add a wide receiver to fill in for Jordan Addison while he's serving a three-game suspension, and that's what makes this such a home run for the Vikings.

Vikings trade for Adam Thielen is a win on all fronts

The trade itself was a good one for the Vikings. They did give up the value of a compensatory fourth-round pick in the deal, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did what he does best: didn't give up any of his quantity of draft picks.

Overall, the compensation is a little bit hefty for the Vikings, who are acquiring a 35-year-old wide receiver on an expiring contract. It speaks to the Vikings' need at the position, because it's higher than normal. We know that Adofo-Mensah isn't afraid to pay for an asset that he believes is worth it.

Let's take a look at why the Vikings felt comfortable paying as much as they did for Thielen. It starts with head coach Kevin O'Connell's ability to work with quarterbacks. The value they essentially gave up is that of a compensatory fourth-round pick, which is exactly what they are projected to receive for having Daniel Jones on the practice squad. That's essentially a free pick, as the Vikings paid Jones just $127,000 for his time with the organization. When you have a free pick coming to you, there can be more aggressive moves.

The other main reason why the Vikings ended up making the move for Thielen has to do with the urgency needed to address the wide receiver position. With Jalen Nailor still uncertain for week one, it was really important to bring in a talented player to help J.J. McCarthy get his feet wet.

Unlike other wide receivers the Vikings could add, there isn't a single player who can offer to O'Connell's offense what Thielen can: continuity. He's already played in this system, which will be huge for making an impact immediately. The other element is chemistry. Thielen has already worked with McCarthy during the offseason, as they have been throwing together at a local high school in Minnesota the last two summers. Those intangibles are something that you can't create out of thin air, and immediately make the value of the deal more even than if another team gave the Panthers the same price.

The final element that makes this a win has little to do with actually playing on Sundays. One thing that we tend to forget is that the National Football League is a business. Teams aren't just trying to win Super Bowls, they are trying to make as much money as they can. One of the ways to be a successful business is good public relations.

What better way to have great PR than to bring back the hometown boy who had a $500 scholarship to the University of Minnesota State-Mankato that was a fan favorite for his entire tenure with the franchise? In speaking to people throughout the day on Wednesday after the trade, people who are relatively agnostic about team were very excited about the move. It's human nature to like the story of the prodigal son returning home, and that's exactly what the Vikings have here with Thielen. It will likely spike merch sales, and fans will be bringing their Thielen jerseys out from the closet.

While he's not the player who made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2017 and 2018, he will be a major addition and help for the Vikings' offense both while Addison is serving his suspension and once he returns. The intermediate levels of the field will be where Thielen lives, and that will be perfect for McCarthy.

Sometimes, a move just makes sense. The Vikings saw that and hit a grand slam.