The commerce that despatched Adam Thielen again to the Minnesota Vikings was a heartwarming second in a sport that’s so typically merciless and uncaring. The veteran extensive receiver brimmed with pleasure, thanked the Carolina Panthers for fulfilling his want to return, and gleefully talked about on social media that his son “would possibly cry once they inform him the information after faculty,” such was the younger boy’s need to return “residence” after a stint in Charlotte.
Three months later the texture good vibes evaporated straight away, however they’d been brewing lengthy earlier than that. Minnesota unceremoniously waived Thielen on Monday, following a Sunday afternoon the place a franchise legend was a wholesome scratch. Thielen needed to be on a aggressive crew, and the Vikings granted that want — however that doesn’t change how basically incorrect the Vikings’ teaching employees had finished by Adam Thielen this season.
When Thielen was traded it felt like a pure match. He would be capable of begin throughout from Justin Jefferson to kick off the yr whereas Jordan Addison served a two recreation suspension, then he would pivot to both the slot receiver function when Addison returned — or doubtlessly nonetheless play on the skin whereas Addison was kicked inside to diversify the passing offense. Furthermore, it gave the offense a gentle, veteran receiver with a knack for speaking a receiver’s imaginative and prescient of soccer to a younger quarterback, which is what made him so worthwhile in Carolina with Bryce Younger. If Jefferson and Addison could be the sizzle for J.J. McCarthy’s improvement, then Thielen could be the steak.
To make this occur the Vikings traded a 4th spherical decide in 2026, a fifth spherical decide in 2026 — and took the Panthers’ fifth with Thielen in return. We don’t must litigate the myriad issues the Vikings have had this season, however suffice it to say that Minnesota will not be a aggressive crew. What’s so weird about this complete state of affairs is that at no level did Minnesota even strive to make Thielen part of the offense. The extra they struggled, the deeper within the weeds they obtained, the extra they seemingly wanted a dependable hand at WR to regular the ship — the extra Thielen turned an afterthought.
What started as an opportunity to journey off into the sundown on a playoff crew in a homecoming for the ages, as a substitute has thrown the 35-year-old receiver into the open market. His stat sheet in 2025: 18 targets, 8 receptions, 69 yards.
The shortage of manufacturing from Thielen has been so profound that it’s tough to see it as something however a slap within the face. Operating again Aaron Jones obtained 12 extra targets that he did within the passing recreation, and Jones isn’t actually a twin again. Jalen Nailor successfully took his job instantly, beginning extra video games than the veteran, and receiving greater than double the targets. Hell, even Jordan Mason, the Vikings’ bowling ball-esque quick yardage again obtained roughly the identical variety of alternatives within the passing recreation (15 targets) as Thielen did.
With all that in thoughts it’s tough to see this complete course of as profoundly disrespectful. There have been a lot of unhealthy groups who give the veteran’s rub to franchise legends on their means out the door in dropping seasons, however for no matter purpose Thielen has not as soon as, however twice been snubbed by the present Vikings’ mind belief — first being launched as a cap transfer in 2023, then introduced again and ignored. It’s a far cry from the effusive reward GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah supplied Thielen when he was launched two years in the past:
“Adam will perpetually be part of the Minnesota Vikings household and historical past. Setting the usual along with his play on the sphere, being a selfless teammate, and making a everlasting impression in the neighborhood, Adam’s affect is critical. We’re grateful for all the things he dropped at the Vikings group since arriving in 2013, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to work with him during the last yr. He’s the perfect illustration of what the Minnesota Vikings ought to stand for.”
Thielen’s motivation all through has been pretty easy: He believed he may play at a excessive stage when the Vikings didn’t, and went on to indicate that in Carolina with a 1,000 yard season in 2023, and one other which would have gone for an additional 1,000 if not for lacking seven video games as a result of harm. Had he stayed with the Panthers there’s a really actual probability we’re speaking in regards to the Panthers as NFC South leaders proper now, with early season losses to Arizona and Jacksonville being due partly to having devastating accidents at receiver to start out the yr, which pressured the Panthers to start out Hunter Renfrow when he had no enterprise taking part in the place.
As an alternative he obtained a tear-filled homecoming, solely to comprehend that when he arrived no person actually needed him. The query is: Why the hell did the Vikings commerce for Thielen in any respect if that they had no intention of utilizing him? In what capability did head coach Kevin O’Connell take a look at the struggles of his quarterbacks and suppose that there was no means Thielen may have helped?
Certain, they granted Thielen his launch so he can attempt to be a part of a contender for a playoff run, and that’s nice — however it doesn’t override the truth that the veteran receiver was balled up and tossed apart like an previous piece of pocket book paper. The excellent news for all that is that somebody within the NFL goes to get a big-time increase for a playoff run, however who?
This touchdown spot makes a ton of sense. We all know Drake Maye likes to stretch the sphere and throw deep, however one factor the Pats lack is that dependable, short-yardage extensive receiver with tender palms who can decide up these essential Third-and-6 kind downs to increase drives. Tight finish Hunter Henry at the moment fills this function, however there’s completely no purpose Thielen wouldn’t be a big-time addition to make these hero performs that might take an excellent Patriots crew, and switch them right into a Tremendous Bowl contender.
The kneejerk response would possibly lead you to say “the Payments,” as a result of they’re in dire want of receiver assist — however it’s not an important match. The Payments have numerous guys on the roster who’re primarily 35-year-old Adam Thielens, all stable briefly down conditions, however no person who can actually stretch the sphere. It’s for that reason I’m ruling out the Payments.
We are going to perennially point out the Baltimore Ravens in the case of groups needing a receiver. At this level the crew has to simply acknowledge that Rashod Bateman was a bust, and cease giving him alternatives to screw issues up. That leaves the Ravens with Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins, then we transfer to the 2 glorious tight ends in Mark Andrews and Isaiah Possible. This crew wants one other sure-handed receiver to present Lamar Jackson choices when he’s attempting to make performs out of construction, and that is one thing Thielen did very effectively with Bryce Younger below heart.
It will be poetic and very bizarre to have this all come full circle. It’s unclear if the Panthers would match Thielen’s “aggressive” need, however there’s an opportunity. Carolina appears comparatively set at WR, however they’re severely missing a constant quick yardage goal — very similar to the Patriots are. Tetairoa McMillian is having a rookie of the year-worthy season, however he’s getting doubled so typically within the offense that he can’t actually work briefly house. There’s a stable purpose to suppose this reunion may work, however that assumes a greater supply isn’t on the market.
