What Should the Vikings Be Willing to Give Up in an Adam Thielen Trade?
The Minnesota Vikings have been searching for a veteran wide receiver over the past week.
This search is a result of Minnesota’s wide receiver room taking a hit prior to the regular season’s start. Jordan Addison will be serving a three-game suspension to begin the year, and there are still questions regarding Jalen Nailor’s hand injury suffered in joint practice with the New England Patriots.
As a result, there has been plenty of scuttlebutt surrounding a potential reunion with Adam Thielen this year. Currently, the veteran receiver is a member of the Carolina Panthers, but both sides have been working to make a deal that would send Thielen back to Minnesota.
But, if such a deal were to be made, how much should the Vikings be willing to give up?
How Much Should an Adam Thielen Reunion Cost the Vikings?
One thing that should be considered when making a deal to acquire Thielen is the fact that the veteran wide receiver currently has one year left on his contract.
The receiver currently carries a $10 million cap hit with that contract, so after Thielen played just 10 games in 2024, catching 48 passes for 615 yards and five touchdowns, Minnesota should be conservative with the amount of draft capital that they offer for the 35-year-old receiver.
This is especially the case when we also consider that, once Addison returns to the lineup, Thielen would be at best the team’s WR3 and possibly a WR4 if Nailor can build off his strong 2024 season.
Luckily, the Vikings have done a great job of building up Day 3 draft capital over the past week. They recently traded away QB Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Of course, the Vikings also gave away a 2026 sixth-round pick in the deal, but they still managed to add draft capital in the trade.
The Vikings also immediately got that sixth-round pick back a few days later when they sent CB Mekhi Blackmon to the Indianapolis Colts.
Days earlier, the Vikings also sent DT Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets, and in return, they received a 2026 sixth-round pick and 2027 sixth-round pick.
So, in total, the Vikings now hold 11 picks in next spring’s draft, including a whopping seven selections from rounds 4-7, if we consider compensatory selections that will come Minnesota’s way due to the free agency departures of Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Cam Robinson.
In recent days of negotiations, it seems that the Panthers have been trying to get as much juice from the Adam Thielen trade squeeze as they can.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Monday, “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.”
It makes sense for Carolina to do so, considering Thielen has been a trusted target for QB Bryce Young over the past two years, and the Panthers aren’t simply going to give him away.
However, if the Panthers aren’t willing to take a couple of Minnesota’s Day 3 selections in exchange for the 35-year-old receiver, it may be time for the Vikings to begin looking elsewhere for a veteran receiver.
Perhaps another reunion with recently released K.J. Osborn could be in order instead.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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