Adam Thielen decided to spend his Monday morning drawing up a deadline plan for his old team, and the former Minnesota Vikings receiver arrived with a name already circled.

Adam Thielen Pitches Justin Herbert as Vikings’ Solution to QB Problem

On “KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show,” Thielen urged Minnesota to trade for a quarterback with Tuesday’s deadline closing in and put Justin Herbert at the top of his list, arguing that “there’s no other position that they can go out and get that instantly makes them Super Bowl contenders.”

Then came Monday night. With Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring strain, Carson Wentz went 8-of-25 for 81 yards with two interceptions in a 23-6 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. The loss dropped Minnesota to 6-2.

Afterward, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell deferred the trade question to general manager Nolan Teasley, and star receiver Justin Jefferson made it clear the call isn’t his either. That leaves the next move in Teasley’s hands before the 4 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday.

Thielen’s argument started with the defense Minnesota already has. “We’re all in. We got the No. 1 defense in the NFL, let’s go. … It’s gotta be a quarterback,” he said.

Then he got specific.

“I would choose Justin Herbert. … He’s entering his prime, and he’s gonna be there for a long time. So you get a guy that’s not just a fill-in. You have to give up a lot, so it better be something that’s gonna be there for a long time and gonna stop this trend of three quarterbacks every season here in Minnesota,” Thielen said.

He spoke for a fan base that has watched the position turn over again and again. “I know that everyone is sick of that. They want a guy in this building who can be the franchise guy. … Again, I’m not making calls, I have no idea what that takes to give up.”

By the end of Monday night, O’Connell was the one fielding the quarterback question. Asked after the loss whether he had given any thought to acquiring a quarterback before the deadline, he said, “I’ll defer to Nolan [Vikings GM] on that.”

Carson Wentz Struggles as Justin Jefferson Hands the QB Question Upstairs

The box score shows why the question keeps coming up. Wentz finished with an 8.9 passer rating and also lost a fumble. Minnesota managed 178 total yards and nine first downs and went 0-for-8 on third down.

The defense Thielen raved about kept Minnesota within a score for most of the night. Buffalo led only 13-6 until James Cook III’s 5-yard touchdown run with 6:17 left in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings sacked Josh Allen four times, with Byron Murphy Jr. picking him off once.

Jefferson’s own night was quiet, with three catches for 58 yards on 11 targets. Asked whether Minnesota should trade for a quarterback before the deadline, the star receiver stayed in his lane. “Not sure. That’s on Nolan, that’s on KO. That’s their job. My job is to continue getting open, be the leader of this team. Come next week, hopefully things change.”

Justin Herbert’s Season Goes Off The Rails in Los Angeles

Herbert’s 0-8 Chargers sit fourth in the AFC West. Through Week 9, he has completed 61.3% of his passes for 1,591 yards with six touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and his 70.4 passer rating ranks 30th of 31 qualified quarterbacks.

Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact Grade has him at 60 for the season through Week 9, dead last among 35 graded quarterbacks.

Herbert’s five-year, $262.5 million extension presents another obstacle. A midseason trade could leave Los Angeles carrying approximately $31.6 million in dead money in 2026 and another $50.4 million in 2027. Herbert also has a no-trade clause, giving him a say in any potential move.