Trade Buzz Hits Beloved Ex-Viking
The Carolina Panthers are hoping for a breakout campaign in 2025 after finishing last year relatively strong.
Adam Thielen, formerly of the Vikings, has surfaced in NFL trade speculation as training camps heat up. Here’s what the buzz is all about, and if a trade is realistic.
Quarterback Bryce Young seemed to turn the corner in 2024, to an extent, and along with 1st-Round draft selection Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers could compete in a rather underwhelming NFC South division.
And according to Pro Football Focus, former Minnesota Vikings wideout Adam Thielen could be traded along the way.
Adam Thielen on the Move?
The 34-year-old may have a season or two left in the NFL.
PFF Lists Adam Thielen as a Trade Candidate
PFF’s Bradley Locker listed 15 players who could realistically be traded before the early November deadline. Thielen made the cut.
Locker wrote, “The Panthers built on their late-season growth via a solid offseason, acquiring marquee talent on both sides of the ball. But a side effect of those personnel changes is a logjam at wide receiver, which could relegate Thielen.”
“Even at age 34, Thielen performed admirably with Carolina in 2024. The veteran produced a 76.5 PFF receiving grade with 2.06 yards per route run while also sitting 73rd in separation rate and 65th in separation rate against single coverage.”
Others, like Micah Parsons (OLB, DAL), Trey Hendrickson (DE, CIN), and Jauan Jennings (WR, SF), among 11 more, joined Thielen on the lengthy list.
Locker added, “On the surface, it would seem quixotic for the Panthers to trade a player still going strong in Thielen. But with eighth-overall pick Tetairoa McMillan entering the fold, head coach Dave Canales effectively has two starting spots for three players: Thielen, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette.”
“Thielen is the oldest and on an expiring contract, which would figure to make him the most expendable; after all, the Panthers could likely obtain a solid draft pick instead of keeping him in a limited role.”
Opportunity to Latch onto Contender?
Thielen has never won a Super Bowl — probably because he played for the Vikings from 2013 to 2022. At age 34, it may be time to chase a ring, and other spots aside from Carolina might be wiser destinations.
Trading Thielen this summer — the regular season is about five weeks away — would be a bit strange, particularly if Carolina believes it is about to turn the corner into winning ways. However, Thielen would be a name to monitor during the regular season for trade fodder. For example, if the Panthers started the season with a 2-4 record or something similar, a Super Bowl contender could come knocking for Thielen’s sure-handed and reliable services. Think: the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills.
The Vikings could even inquire about his trade price tag if an injury besets WR3 Jalen Nailor or rookie Tai Felton doesn’t take off immediately in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Thielen’s Role in CAR
Thielen missed several games last year due to injury, but if he remains upright in 2025, he should fill a WR2 or WR3 role in Carolina.
The aforementioned rookie, Tetairoa McMillan, is trending to receive WR1 targets, but often, rookies take time to acclimate to the pros. In addition to Thielen and McMillan, the Panthers have Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and Hunter Renfrow in their roster orbit.
Thielen logged 615 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 10 games last season.
Retirement in 5 Months?
If a team doesn’t send a late-round draft pick to Carolina for Thielen’s services, it’s a fair bet that the beloved ex-Vikings could retire in January or February.
He hinted this offseason that any year could be the last at his age, so 2025 or 2026 is shaping up as Thielen’s swan song. He ranks fourth all-time on the Vikings’ receiving yards leaderboard with 6,682.
Jameis Winston Listed, Too
Within the last few days, Bleacher Report listed New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston as a trade candidate for the Vikings. PFF didn’t mention Minnesota as a destination for Winston, but it listed the man as an NFL trade target nevertheless.
Locker defended the Winston selection, “After spending the start of his NFL career as the Buccaneers’ primary signal-caller, Winston is deep into his second act as a journeyman backup. That road may include another stop soon.”
“While with the Browns in 2024, Winston tallied a 69.5 PFF passing grade with 11 big-time throws and 18 turnover-worthy plays. The 31-year-old displayed that he’s still capable of slinging the ball at a high level in spurts, producing 82.0-plus PFF passing grades against the Steelers and Bengals last year.”
That’s two notable outlets that believe Winston is gettable via trade.
Locker concluded, “The Giants are likely to start either Russell Wilson or first-round pick Jaxson Dart, leaving Winston as the team’s presumptive QB3. New York could keep the former first overall pick in that role, but Winston figures to be most teams’ top trade target when a quarterback injury inevitably happens.”
On Thielen, he’ll turn 35 next month.
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