Another Adam Thielen Endorsement Adds to Vikings Buzz
For much of the 2025 offseason, Adam Thielen has nibbled at the Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill, a candidate to join the purple roster as a WR3 or WR4.
Another Adam Thielen endorsement has bubbled to the top, adding to the buzz around the Vikings and fueling speculation about a potential reunion in 2025.
And with roster cuts looming — August 26th — some believe Minnesota could pull the trigger on a trade for Thielen with current employer, the Carolina Panthers.
SB Nation stepped up to the plate last week and became the latest theorist.
Adam Thielen Trade Fodder to Vikings Continues
Minnesota could suddenly be in the market for an extra wideout.
SB Nation Floats Adam Thielen Trade for Vikings
Thielen played for the Vikings from 2013 to 2022, so any trade would feel like an almighty reunion — and probably a retirement tour.
SB Nation‘s James Dator advanced the trade theory last Friday: “It’s wild to look at the Vikings as a team that needs receiver help, but here we are. The paramount concern for Minnesota this year is to get J.J. McCarthy started off on the right foot, and that will be extremely difficult with Jordan Addison serving a three game suspension, and now Rondale Moore suffering a season-ending knee injury.”
“As it stands the opening day receivers for Minnesota will be Justin Jefferson, Tai Felton, and Jalen Nailor in the slot. That’s a bad, bad unit.”
Minnesota also has tight end T.J. Hockenson to ease any WR pain.
Dator continued, “Enter an old friend in Adam Thielen. The Carolina Panthers love Thielen, but they have a problem of their own at receiver: They have too many to know what to do with. All signs point to Tetairoa McMillan being their No. 1, with Xavier Legette across from him, and Thielen in the slot. That leaves 2024 breakout UDFA Jalen Coker, Hunter Renfrow, and promising rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. all riding the pine.”
“The Panthers have often said Thielen is their veteran leadership, glue guy — but depending on how the front office feels about the maturity of the unit, Thielen could be expendable. He would be an ideal fit for Minnesota as a bridge WR, who can offer punch on the outside immediately, and transition to the slot when Addison returns.”
Minnesota has a mostly full draft capital piggybank — unlike last year at this time — if it wishes to pull off the Thielen deal.
The Price?
How much would Thielen cost? Not much.
Thielen will turn 35 in three days, and if his days are numbered in Carolina, no team will pay more than a late-round draft pick. NFL franchises love to utilize conditional late-round trades, so, for example, Thielen could be gettable for a conditional 7th-Rounder that would morph into a 6th-Round selection if Thielen plays a certain number of snaps.
Long story short, if the Panthers make Thielen available, the trade price will be affordable. The Vikings would also have the financial space to absorb his $5 million cap hit.
Preparing for No Jordan Addison, Rondale Moore
Before this month, Thielen to Minnesota felt like a transaction for vibes. That is — let the man end his wondrous career in his home state.
But with Jordan Addison guaranteed to miss the season’s first three games, Rondale Moore out for the year with a bad knee, and WR3 Jalen Nailor battling a jammed hand, the realism of a Thielen swap feels more palpable than ever.
If general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pulled off the deal, Thielen would instantly become the team’s WR2 for at least three weeks with Addison on the shelf.
Fans Would Love the Hell Out of It
It’s worth noting that purple fans would absolutely gush over a Thielen reunion. Few would be upset.
Thielen’s story is everywhere, and he only left the Twin Cities in the first place because Adofo-Mensah rebuilt the roster and salary cap from the ground up. Thielen’s large cap on deck for 2023 didn’t fit in the budget.
Now, he’s cheaper and nearing the end of the road. Trading for Thielen, to allow him a farewell tour, would only add pizzazz to a season already jacked with suspense and excitement.
SB Nation Also Pounds the Table for Kirk Cousins to Rams
Dator also recommended Kirk Cousins to the Los Angeles Rams in addition to Thielen to Minnesota.
He explained, “The Rams season hangs in the balance. Matthew Stafford’s back injury had prevented him from taking snaps for a majority of training camp, and there’s little sign that things will get better. As it stands there’s a real chance that Jimmy Garoppolo starts the season, and that’s bad news.”
“When it comes to backups you could do a lot worse than Jimmy G, but he’s not going to be a player who gives you the same playoff impact as Stafford. Kirk Cousins still exists. The way the Falcons have handled Cousins this offseason has been extremely bizarre, as they now enter the regular season with one of the highest paid backup QBs of all time.”
Cousins would reunite with Sean McVay in Los Angeles, his offensive coordinator from the Washington Commanders days.
Dator added, “There have been sporadic reports that Atlanta has hoped for a good trade return, but that’s kind of ridiculous. Dumping a large portion of his salary and picking up a mid-round pick would be a solid move for the Falcons to progress and show faith in Michael Penix Jr.”
“Cousins is far from the perfect QB, but he might be enough to ensure the Rams get to the playoffs, which is more than we can say about Jimmy G.”
The NFL trade deadline is about 2.5 months away.
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