The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed veteran receiver Adam Thielen in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, giving him the chance to finish his NFL career in his home state of Minnesota. The deal includes a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and several draft picks from the Panthers.
Thielen, who played for the Vikings from 2013 to 2022, will play alongside Justin Jefferson after serving as a secondary option under coach Kevin O’Connell. The signing aims to alleviate the team’s lack of receiver depth following Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension and injuries to other receivers during training camp.
As one of the most prolific receivers in Minnesota Vikings history, Thielen has compiled 534 career catches with the team. His knowledge of O’Connell’s scheme made him an attractive target for the Vikings, who lost receiver Rondale Moore to a season-ending knee injury.
The trade comes after Thielen spent time with quarterback J.J. McCarthy during training camp in each of the past two summers. The 35-year-old receiver went undrafted in 2013 but developed into a starter midway through his rookie season and earned consecutive Pro Bowl berths before becoming a secondary option under Jefferson’s emergence.
The Vikings will pay Thielen’s remaining salary for the 2025 season, with the team working on a revised contract to determine his final compensation.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46086926/adam-thielen-returns-vikings-panthers-trade-sources-say