There’s an Adam Thielen Trade Update
It’s widely known that the Minnesota Vikings want to add another receiver ahead of the Week 1 clash against the Chicago Bears in a couple of weeks. J.J. McCarthy has a depleted WR corps, which certainly isn’t ideal for a young passer’s first start.
There’s an Adam Thielen Trade Update
Justin Jefferson is still in the mix, and every group of pass-catchers with him could get the job done. But who’s eating if the defense is sending three guys his way? Jordan Addison is suspended to start the season, and Jalen Nailor got banged up with a mysterious hand injury.
Suddenly, the top room includes — besides the top WR in the game — players such as Lucky Jackson, Tai Felton, Jeshaun Jones, Tim Jones, and Myles Price.
A veteran receiver with some sure hands is on Kevin O’Connell’s wishlist ahead of McCarthy’s debut. Of course, Adam Thielen comes to mind. Minnesota’s own has been stuck in Carolina for a couple of seasons, and he might want to come home instead.
The Panthers drafted a first-round receiver in back-to-back drafts (Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan) and found two more young, talented wideouts in Jimmy Horn Jr. and Jalen Coker. Throw in veteran Hunter Renfrow, and they would surely be willing to give up Thielen for some draft capital. “Not so fast,” say the Panthers.
Adam Schefter reported Monday night, “Vikings and Panthers have tried to work out a trade for Carolina WR Adam Thielen, who would like to return to Minnesota, but the two sides continue to struggle to agree on compensation.”
The Vikings traded away three players and added a ton of late-round picks they can now use in a trade, but if the Panthers don’t budge, there won’t be a deal.
The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling mentioned on the Access Vikings Podcast, “My understanding is at this point that is has been a matter of what’s the draft pick compensation going to be? Can they get to a spot where everybody is happy with it? Especially when you have to throw in the consideration of Thielen’s contract.”
Thielen is 35 years old. Actually, he’s the oldest wideout in the NFL right now. He also brings a base salary of $6.25 million. That’s a reasonable salary for Thielen, but it should be considered in any trade. Harrison Phillips’ trade didn’t cost the Jets much, primarily because of that veteran contract.
Looking at age and money, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might be reluctant to enter early-day-three territory.
The two items the franchises can change are money and draft picks. Goessling added, “How much of [Thielen’s salary] do the Vikings pick up? They could afford to pick up all of it, but if you’re saying that to the Panthers, you’re probably saying, ‘Guys, that has to affect the level of the draft pick we’re sending back to you.'”
Thielen missed some time last year, but in 27 games with the Panthers, he caught 151 passes for 1,629 yards and nine touchdowns. He logged over 1,000 yards in 2023 for the first time since 2018, and his yards-per-game number last year was even better.
The veteran would be the ideal three-game WR2 and then WR3 for the remainder of the year once Addison is back in the mix. He has elite hands, understands the offense, and has already gotten to know McCarthy in some throwing sessions over the last two years.
This saga might not end anytime soon.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.