Adam Thielen has an opportunity to shut out his profession the place all of it started. After weeks of hypothesis the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings agreed to a commerce, sending the veteran WR again to his unique group in a reasonably sophisticated deal so far as veteran strikes like this go.
It has turn out to be a sellers market within the NFL for receivers forward of the common season. Thielen was within the last 12 months of his contract, and had made some indication that 2025 can be his final 12 months within the league. That’s usually not a participant who commanders a 4th and fifth spherical decide, even with belongings going the opposite means. Particularly contemplating Deebo Samuel was traded from the 49ers to the Commanders for a flat fifth rounder previous to the draft.
We’re conditioned to try to discover a “winner” in offers like this, however honestly there isn’t actually a winner or a loser. That is an instance of two normal managers who clearly went backwards and forwards to drive exhausting bargains for his or her respective groups, which ended up with each groups giving up greater than they needed.
As an alternative lets take a look at the professionals and cons for each groups on this deal.
The Vikings get an unbelievable locker room presence and a group chief, whereas additionally discovering a technique to climate the storm via Jordan Addison’s suspension. Carolina praised Thielen’s function within the locker room as a sounding board for Bryce Younger in his second season, whereas additionally being a stable on-field participant. Whereas it’s undoubtable Thielen has misplaced a step, he’s nonetheless a sure-handed cross catcher who will assist do massive issues for J.J. McCarthy in his rookie season.
Sending away future belongings for an growing old veteran receiver like it is a transfer you make if you suppose you’re a chunk or two away from rivalry, not pivoting to a brand new quarterback. If lightning strikes twice and McCarthy performs like Sam Darnold did final 12 months then it could be value it, but when Minnesota fails to make the playoffs then this was a hefty worth to pay in a deal, and McCarthy will then must adapt to not having Thielen in his second 12 months as starter.
This can be a vote of confidence within the receiver room constructed underneath Dave Canales. For a lot of the summer season I heard from sources contained in the Panthers that there was an opportunity Thielen could possibly be dealt, not due to something he did — however relatively everybody round him. Tetairoa McMillan arrived being extra NFL-ready than the group anticipated, Xavier Legette has taken a step ahead, and UDFA gem Jalen Coker is prepared for a bigger function within the offense. Throw in Jimmy Horn Jr, who the Panthers are excessive on, and the room was getting too stacked.
The Panthers are an unquestionably worse group proper now with out Thielen, than with him. This places extra stress on the younger receivers to assist out Bryce Younger, and he now not has a sure-handed veteran as an outlet — significantly on damaged performs. If Thielen was a key factor to Younger’s resurgence in 2024 then they only gave him away for future belongings, once they may have saved him for yet one more 12 months within the hopes the younger receivers would grow to be the sure-handed playmakers Younger wants.
Intestine feeling on how this works out
It is going to be negligible for each groups. I don’t suppose Bryce Younger falls off the face of the earth with out Thielen in his receiving corps, nor do I consider that Thielen turns the Vikings right into a Tremendous Bowl group. He’ll, nevertheless, permit Minnesota the absolute best likelihood to start out the season robust and strengthen their receiver room additional when Addison returns to his beginning function.
