Sep 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
Based on his 2023 cap hit, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is a popular cap-casualty and trade candidate, as the team will effectuate measures to get under the salary cap in the next four weeks.
But not so fast, says ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Fowler examined NFL buzz heading into Super Bowl LVII, and the Vikings 32-year-old made the cut as a storyline. Fowler wrote about Thielen, his cap hit, and the Vikings last week, “The Vikings are open to Thielen returning in 2022. Sides have had preliminary talks. But his $19.967 million cap hit is an issue (probably more so than his $13.3 million in cash), and he would have trade interest, so the team and player must find a sweet spot for him to retire a Viking. Seems like something they can work out.”
Thielen is beloved by Minnesotans and Vikings fans everywhere, so exploring an 11th season with the Vikings would be welcomed with open arms. The price just needs to be right for everyone involved, evidently.
The Minnesota State alumnus told ESPN’s First Take last Thursday, “I want to retire a Viking. Will that happen? I don’t know. This is also a business. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Later in the day, Thielen spoke with Pat McAfee about his contract and shed more light on the situation. “We’re working through some stuff because I have a big cap hit,” Thielen replied on the show.
Depending on the beholder’s perception, Thielen seems open to returning to the Vikings and retiring with the franchise — or he could have one foot out the door if the money wrecks the conversation.
Thielen also said on First Take, “I hope to retire a Minnesota Viking. I grew up a Vikings fan, watching Cris Carter and Randy Moss, and I wanna retire a Viking.”
He’s scheduled to incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings books in 2023, a figure thought by some as too expensive for a WR2 who tallied 716 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022. Thielen was at the peak of his powers in 2018 and has performed admirably thereafter while battling a handful of injuries. He morphed into a touchdown magnet after the 2018 season and became Minnesota’s go-to redzone target after tight end Kyle Rudolph left in 2021.
Overall, while you interpret Thielen’s words or predict the Vikings stance on his hefty cap hit, one item is certain — Thielen won’t return to the team with a $19.9 million cap hit. That’s too large. He’ll either accept a paycut — which is unlikely — greenlight his contractual restructuring with money spread over additional years, get traded, or be released.
But early whispers appear to indicate both sides want his career to happily end with the Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.