The Adam Thielen Trade Turned into a New Center
Trading for Adam Thielen was a brutal move. A far better decision would have involved acquiring somebody like K.J. Osborn, a cheap free agent who could pinch hit at WR3 before becoming the WR4.
Alas, what’s done is done, meaning Minnesota can only move ahead.
Doing so means turning toward new center Gavin Garhardt. The young lineman got added in the 7th, chosen at No. 235 overall to complete Minnesota’s nine-person draft class. He’ll be battling with Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, and Delby Lemieux to solidify the C1 job in 2026.
Vikings Land New Center Gavin Gerhardt in Adam Thielen Swap
Bringing Adam Thielen back to the Twin Cities cost both picks and cap space. Consider how the picks worked out for each side:
- Carolina Panthers: A 5th in 2026 (No. 158) and 4th in 2027
- Minnesota Vikings: A 7th in 2026 (No. 235) and 5th in 2027
If, by chance, the Vikings brought a very good center to town, then the trade will look much better than it does at present. Some years are needed to be able to determine whether Gerhardt can make it as a pro. Going in the 7th is modest, but he’s a tough guy with a lot of experience. Maybe he surprises people.
Prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, Lance Zierlein offered up a short scouting report on the young fella.
“Gerhardt is a 49-game starter with outstanding leadership qualities to go with adequate size and length,” Zierlein writes. “He’s going to be more of a positional blocker than a people-mover, with the ability to find landmarks and fight for positioning. He’s aware of protection and makes the most of his length to keep rushers out of his frame. He’s a center-only prospect, which hurts his roster chances, but the tape is good enough to give him a chance.”
Much to like within these words even as there’s an acknowledgement of the limited upside. Ideally, a depth center will be capable of playing guard, too. Zierlein thinks that’s a stretch, though Minnesota will need to make that determination after working with him.
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What’s encouraging to see is the starting experience and leadership. A center must be a leader, somebody who communicates pre-snap to get the protection sorted out. Kevin O’Connell runs a difficult, complex scheme, so whoever is snapping needs to have ample mental bandwidth.
At 6’4″ and 310 pounds, Gavin Gerhardt looks pretty similar to Ryan Kelly. The former Viking boasts near identical measurements at 6’4″ and 307 pounds. Do note, though, that Kelly got chosen at No. 18 overall before becoming one of the best at the position. Seeing Gerhardt get somewhere close to Kelly someday would be a massive win.
As for the Panthers, that opening pick that got sent over in the Adam Thielen deal didn’t get used by Carolina. Instead, the No. 158 selection was sent to Miami to help facilitate a different trade.
Gavin Gerhardt keeps progressing through the early stages of his NFL career. Most recently, that has meant this week’s OTAs. He’ll have more coming up before getting to mandatory minicamp in June, training camp in July, and then the preseason in August.
Clearing all of these hurdles will result in a 53-man roster spot for September. Being a long-term backup center means the 7th-Round pick was well worth it.
