It’s Time to Admit an Uncomfortable Truth about Adam Thielen
A 4th-Rounder: a deal centered on that price several weeks ago for the Minnesota Vikings to acquire Adam Thielen from the Carolina Panthers. Through five games, it may be time to acknowledge the reality about Thielen, a 35-year-old wideout.
The Vikings traded for Adam Thielen right before the regular season began, and to date, that deal just doesn’t seem worthwhile — now or in the long run.
Thielen doesn’t have to be down and out for the entirety of 2025, but the evidence suggests he may have encountered an age-related decline because, well, he’s 35.
Adam Thielen’s Overly Productive Days May Indeed Be Over
Someone’s gotta say it.
Thielen’s 4 Receptions in 5 Games Hint at Brick Wall
Some will argue — perhaps fairly — that Thielen hasn’t received enough action in the Vikings’ offense in the first five games. J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz have targeted Thielen just 8 times, and he’s logged 4 receptions for 37 yards.
The problem with this theory is his snap count. Thielen has been on the field for 46% of all offensive snaps. Those numbers suggest that he should be sought after in the passing game more frequently. That just hasn’t happened.
Therefore, one or both of two things are happening: a) Thielen isn’t getting open as he did during the heyday of his career b) Minnesota’s mid-tier quarterback performance has disqualified Thielen from his full potential.
No matter what, however, Thielen has not had a meaningful impact, aside from a sweet two-point conversion in Week 1 and a couple of short 3rd Down conversions.
A Trade Not Worth It
In the deal that brought Thielen home from Carolina, Minnesota also picked up a conditional 2026 7th-Rounder and a 2027 5th-Rounder, shipping out a 2026 5th-Rounder and a 2027 4th-Rounder in return. No matter how things shake out, the Panthers will keep that 2027 4th-round pick — and by the time it’s on the board, Thielen will almost certainly be long retired. When that draft arrives, fans will connect the missing selection back to this trade.
To his credit, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah softened the blow by tacking on the extra mid-to-late picks, keeping the draft cupboard from looking completely bare. But if Vikings fans had known Thielen wouldn’t produce anything resembling a WR2 with Addison sidelined due to a suspension, this exchange would’ve been universally panned. Trading away a 4th-Round pick for what’s amounted to silence is a tough sell.
Thielen can still shift the conversation, though. A productive stretch run or a few meaningful catches in a playoff push could change how this deal is remembered. Until that happens, the trade sits in that awkward limbo between faith and regret. Mostly regret.
Time for Thielen to Rebound?
The good news? The Vikings’ season isn’t even 30% over. Thielen has plenty of time to rebound, especially during the schedule’s meaty portion, starting with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens in the next four weeks.
In theory, Thielen could begin racking up 80-100 yard games if McCarthy or Wentz decides to finally look in his direction. This article would look dumb in hindsight. Fair enough.
The problem here is this: Wouldn’t that have happened by now? Five games in with a fully healthy Thielen is a long time to accrue just 4 receptions.
The Lost Draft Pick Could Go Unnoticed
Here’s one saving grace — kind of — about the Thielen trade. Adofo-Mensah has rapidly developed a habit for accumulating compensatory draft picks. In all likelihood, 2026 free agency will be no different, meaning Minnesota will have extra compensatory picks in 2027 when the chickens come home to roost on the Thielen trade.
Folks may not even notice that the organic 4th-Rounder was sent to Carolina in 2025 if the team has a comp pick in Round 4 in 2027.
Food for thought.
Panthers-Themed Media Paints Different Picture
At SI.com, Tim Weaver claimed this week that both teams lost the trade, believe it or not.
He explained, “The Panthers sent Thielen to the Vikings because they apparently felt their wide receiver room was a little too crowded and wanted to give Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and the other young guns on the depth chart more room to grow.”
“That has not been the case so far. While McMillan is promising his game is still raw around the edges and he’ll need time to reach his full potential. Meanwhile, Legette has made two impressive catches all season (both came in Week 5) and nobody else at this position has stepped up. As for the Vikings, they were hoping to boost their otherwise top-heavy wide receiver corps that has Justin Jefferson and not a whole lot else going for it.”
Thielen will get his next chance to rebound in eight days against the Eagles.
“However, Thielen — who took a massive, multi-million dollar paycut as part of the deal – has yet to find his rhythm in Minnesota, and heading into Week 6 he only has totaled four catches, 37 yards and zero touchdowns. The Panthers did get a fourth-round draft pick out of the deal, which isn’t a bad return at all considering Thielen’s age,” Weaver continued.
“Right now you can bet that the franchise would rather have Thielen on the field rather than a Day 3 pick in the pocket. Unless we count Adam Thielen’s wife — who seemed thrilled at the prospect of returning to Minnesota — nobody is better off. This is one trade that’s on the way to being a total bust all around.”
If Thielen’s woes continue, the team should consider inserting wideout Tai Felton into the lineup, a man they drafted in Round 3 seven months ago.
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