Latest Adam Thielen Trade Update Is Bad News For Panthers Fans

The Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers are still trying to work out an Adam Thielen trade but as of this posting, the two sides have yet to come to a full agreement. Thielen isn’t the player he once was, but the 35-year-old is still a solid depth receiver who can help any team in the league. Now much closer to the end of his career than the beginning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the wide receiver would prefer to return to Minnesota for the 2025 season.

REPORT: Adam Thielen Wants A Trade to Vikings; Panthers Won’t Do It

It’s easy to see why Adam Thielen would want a trade to go through. The veteran started his career in Minnesota and, at his peak, established himself as one of the game’s best receivers during his time with the Vikings. Pairing up with Stefon Diggs, the two were arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver duo and found some postseason success during their time together.

The Carolina Panthers are a team on the rise, but they almost certainly won’t be as good as the Minnesota Vikings in 2025. Even with an unknown commodity in second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, this team has the talent to go on a deep playoff run in the upcoming season. After all, they went 14-3 with Sam Darnold running the show last year, and most of the core pieces from last year’s team are returning for 2025. Seeing as Thielen is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning, nobody should be surprised that he’d want to help his longtime team win a Super Bowl.

Terms of the Deal

Adam Thielen wants to reunite with the Vikings, but what will it actually take to make a trade happen? The Minnesota Vikings need another wide receiver, as Jordan Addison will miss three games with a suspension while Jalen Nailor recovers from an injury. Justin Jefferson is great, but he can’t carry this passing attack all by himself, especially with a player with no NFL experience under center.

The Panthers, meanwhile, have a collection of relatively unknown but promising young pass-catchers in rookie first-round pick Tetarioa McMillan , Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. The odds of all of them turning into reliable weapons are admittedly slim, but at least one or two should prove themselves as NFL-caliber starters. While a veteran like Adam Thielen could help these youngsters adjust to life in the NFL, they would probably benefit from the additional playing time.

The Vikings could use Adam Thielen, but he’s not the only veteran available in either free agency or the trade market. If the Vikings are willing to send a fifth-round pick or even a young role-playing defender to the Panthers, Carolina should accept the offer.