Adam Thielen to the Vikings, HERE WE GO!
The Minnesota Vikings have traded for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen.
The Panthers are receiving a fifth-round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
As well as getting Thielen, Carolina is sending a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026, and a fifth rounder in 2027 to Minnesota. The condition of that 2026 pick is only if Thielen is not active for 10 games, or not on the 53-man roster for 14 games.
If the Vikings and Thielen meet these terms, that seventh round pick becomes a sixth.
Thanks for the memories
Adam Thielen has been a phenomenal contributor to Carolina in his two-years here. He signed a three-year contract worth $25 million in 2023.
He left Minnesota as a free agent at the end of the 2022 season after playing nine seasons, making himself a fan favourite as an undrafted free agent from Minnesota State in 2013.
Carolina Panthers quarterback, Bryce Young, relied heavily on the experience of a then 32-year-old Thielen in the rookie season of the first-overall draft pick.
The Panthers traded away star receiver D.J. Moore to acquire the services of Young in the draft, leaving the Panthers without a standout pass catcher.
Thielen became the big name in a group consisting of D.J. Chark, Jonathan Mingo, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Laviska Shenault. Three of those left in free agency at the end of 2023.
The 2023 season was catastrophic for Carolina and Bryce Young. However, Thielen shone by catching over 100 passes for only the second time in his 10-year career (2018) and totalling over 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career (the last time also being 2018).
With a rookie quarterback struggling for confidence in an awful offense, Thielen became the comfort blanket for Young.
Right time to move on
Seeing Thielen leave is most certainly a shame. Thielen has just turned 35-years-old and was entering the last year of his contract with the Panthers.
Thielen has admitted that in each of the last few off-seasons, he has considered retirement. Not only was 2025 most certainly going to be his last year in Carolina, but it may also have been his last in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers and General Manager Dan Morgan are investing in the youth and the future of the franchise. At his age and with one year left on his contract, Thielen does not fit the bill.
Morgan has received what he believes to be the equivalent of a fourth-round pick for a 35-year-old in the final year of his contract.
In the short term, this could be a bad move for Carolina and Bryce Young by removing the most dependable receiver on the team. But the Panthers are deep with young potential, and this move will see them get more reps and step up for the franchise that believes so highly in them.
Next guys up
Over the last two drafts, the Panthers have selected receivers in the first round – Xavier Legette, 32nd overall in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillan, eighth overall in 2025.
The responsibility is theirs to step up as main contributors on offense. Thielen’s strengths lay as a slot receiver. Who will fill that role? Look no further than Jalen Coker.
Like Thielen, Coker went undrafted, signing in 2024 from Holy Cross. The 6’3” baby-faced giant had zero drops on 32 catches in his rookie season and two touchdowns, one being an 83-yard catch and run against Dallas.
He is an expert route runner and phenomenal at catching in traffic. Playing in the slot is his expertise and he got his shot in the NFL coming off the practice squad last season after Thielen suffered a hamstring injury while diving for a touchdown catch in Week 3.
With Thielen out and Xavier Legette struggling in his rookie campaign, Coker stepped up as the most dependable player on the team.
The future
As good and dependable as Adam Thielen was for us in his two seasons in Charlotte, the team will manage without him. If not immediately, the team is in safe hands moving forward.
Personally, I am happy to see him get the move back home that he desired.
He grew up in Detroit Lakes in Minnesota, went to Minnesota State college and spent nine-years at the Minnesota Vikings. He still owns property up there and took the team on a bonding trip on the lakes in Minnesota during the offseason.
While most players will go to Southern states like Florida, Texas or California for off-season sun, Thielen convinced a group to go with him up north to his beloved Minnesota.
From a team viewpoint, the trade made sense gaining draft capital and clearing the wages of a soon-to-be retiree as well as giving the younger players more opportunity.
I am personally happy to see Thielen and his family happy to go back home.
