After much deliberation, a trade between the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings is completed. The Vikings have been looking for a veteran WR due to the Jordan Addison suspension.
Now, one of their longtime receivers is back home. The reunion couldn’t be completed without a few draft picks involved, which made the trade all the more intriguing.
Draft Picks Galore as Panthers Send Adam Thielen Back to the Vikings
NFL reported that Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero came together to break the news of the Adam Thielen trade. It’s one that has been rumored for quite some time, but the team’s finally put pen to paper.
“Panthers to trade WR Adam Thielen, a conditional 2026 7th-round pick and 2027 5th-round pick to Vikings for 2026 5th-round pick and 2027 4th-round pick,” the account wrote.
Panthers to trade WR Adam Thielen, a conditional 2026 7th-round pick and 2027 5th-round pick to Vikings for 2026 5th-round pick and 2027 4th-round pick. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/vWxrvM0ErV
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2025
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It’s a trade that was long overdue for a Vikings team that is looking to build off of their 14-3 season. Ultimately, they fell short of winning the NFC North and were humiliated in the first round of the playoffs.
Thielen went to college at Minnesota State before playing on the team from 2014-2022. He had just one year left on his Panthers contract as both sides came to an agreement involving numerous draft picks.
Carolina was forced to send two future draft picks to Minnesota for two draft picks in return. Ultimately, they were moving away from a 7th round pick in 2026 for a 5th round pick. In 2027, they dealt a 5th rounder for a 4th round pick. Thielen is no longer part of their team as they moved up two rounds in ’26 and one round in ’27.
The State of The Panthers and Vikings WR Room
Rookie J.J. McCarthy should feel much better with Thielen in town. He may be 35-years-old, but he had a 1,000 yard season just two years ago. No one is expecting him to do that on the same team as Justin Jefferson, but one of the league’s most dominant duo’s back is back together.
Thielen joins a team with Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, Tim Jones, and Myles Price. At this point, ESPN lists Jefferson, Nailor, and Felton all as questionable. Somehow, it’s the 12-year veteran who’s the healthiest of the bunch.
Bryce Young’s newest weapon, Tetairoa McMillan has a much higher upside than Thielen ever did. The team’s No. 8 overall pick will be around for at least the next four seasons. That gives himself plenty of time to get accumulated to the team, but he already proved himself in training camp.
Clearly, the Panthers are prioritizing the future. They’ve surrounded Young with as much talent as possible on a team that includes Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. McMillan sits at 22 while Coker is 23 and Legette is 24-years-old, respectively.
Young will have a chance to pick up where he left off at the end of the 2024 season. Heading into ’25, the Panthers could be a darkhorse to compete in their division. No one expects the Vikings to win 14 games again, especially with a rookie QB and the state of their WR room.
While the Panthers will play the Green Bay Packers, that’s the lone NFC North team they face this season. Thielen will not have a chance to face his former team.
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