Beloved Former Vikings WR Evidently in Trade Rumor Mill
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is nearing the end of his career.
Beloved Former Vikings WR Evidently in Trade Rumor Mill
He’ll turn 35 this summer, which is rather ancient by wide receiver standards, but thankfully for his sake, his route-running and hands have always headlined his skill set, allowing him to play into his mid-30s.
And while Thielen has a season or two left, he could join a different team this week in the draft via trade, according to a theory from Bleacher Report.
Adam Thielen a Trade Candidate, per Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report outlined six prominent wide receivers who could encounter a trade fate later this week, focusing on men who might become expendable with rookie wideouts entering the mix.
Among the names, a Thielen trade by the Carolina Panthers, his employer since the start of 2023, earned a mention.
BR’s Kristopher Knox wrote, “Adam Thielen remains a productive wide receiver when healthy. Despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play over the past two seasons, the 34-year-old tallied 1,629 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 27 games over that span. The Carolina Panthers probably wouldn’t get a whole lot in return for Thielen because of his age, but trading him during the draft could make sense.”
“The Panthers finally appear poised to move forward with quarterback Bryce Young and begin the building phase of their latest rebuild. Thielen, who is entering the final year of his contract, doesn’t quite fit the franchise’s timeline, and the Panthers should be hoping to get younger at the receiver position.”
Thielen tallied 48 receptions for 615 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2024, while appearing in 10 games. He’s still got it and especially thrived when he became healthy during the middle of the season, and young quarterback Bryce Young hit a groove.
Knox added, “If Carolina can land a top receiver prospect like Golden or Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, possibly add another receiver in the draft, and move second-year wideout Xavier Legette into a more prominent role, Thielen would likely be looking at a reduced role.”
Per the current draftboard, Carolina, indeed, will have a chance to draft McMillan if it’s in the mood.
The Eagles as a Destination
Knox then name-dropped the Eagles as a trade partner for Thielen: “Thielen, who will turn 35 in August, would be a logical target for two types of teams: those ready to contend now, and those looking to pair a young quarterback with a savvy veteran. The Philadelphia Eagles could fall into the first category.”
“Though Philly traded for Jahan Dotson last offseason, they’re still searching for a reliable third receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. New Eagles passing game coordinator Parks Frazier also coached Thielen as Carolina’s passing game coordinator in 2023.”
Pairing Thielen with Brown, Smith, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and running back Saquon Barkley would do some damage, rest assured.
It’s just unclear if the Eagles want a 35-year-old at WR3 in 2025.
The Patriots, Too
New England, as well, made the cut: “The New England Patriots could look to support second-year quarterback Drake Maye by adding an experienced receiver like Thielen. New England did add Stefon Diggs in free agency, but he’s coming off of a torn ACL. Thielen could give the Patriots a little more veteran insurance, and he has experience under passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, who was the Panthers offensive coordinator in 2023.”
Thielen would provide veteran hands for signal-caller Drake Maye, who showed ample promise as a rookie in 2024.
It’s worth noting that the Patriots, by far, possess the NFL’s worst wide receiving corps, so any productive pass-catcher would represent an upgrade.
The Realism of a Thielen Trade
Like most trade theories, Thielen actually being shipped off by Carolina is a long shot. They probably would’ve unloaded him at last year’s trade deadline or already deprioritized his roster spot this offseason.
The timing — during the draft — is also a little suspect. The Panthers would eat over $5 million in dead cap if they traded Thielen before June 1st, whereas the post-June-1st penalty is just $1.6 million.
If Carolina was serious about trading Thielen but not to the Eagles or Patriots, these squads could also make sense: Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Washington Commanders.
Other WR Trade Candidates from Bleacher Report
Knox named these wide receivers as other alternatives to be moved during the draft:
- Treylon Burks
- George Pickens
- Garrett Wilson
He also claimed a mystery team could trade up the draftboard for Colorado’s Travis Hunter and showcase him as a wide receiver.
The NFL Draft is three days away.
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