Adam Thielen Has Fitting Reaction to Vikings Trade as Details Emerge

For Adam Thielen, the closing of one chapter means re-opening another, as he returns to the Minnesota Vikings after his trade from the Carolina Panthers, with whom he signed in 2023. The veteran met with local media for the first time since the trade, but after he celebrated his return.

“LETSSSS GOOOOOOOO!!!! #SKOL,” Thielen posted on Instagram, along with an old image of himself in a Vikings uniform, on August 28.

The Panthers posted a short message thanking Thielen, who is already in Minnesota.

Thielen, an undrafted free agent with the Vikings in 2013, is a Minnesota native. Still, Thielen responded with a heartfelt goodbye message back to the Panthers are Carolina, thanking them for his two seasons there.

The Vikings welcomed Thielen in kind.

“BACK WHERE HE BELONGS [exclamation point emojis],” the Vikings posted on X on August 27, officially announcing the trade.

Thielen offered high praise for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and noted his belief that Carolina is heading in the right direction as a franchise. He also spoke candidly about not being certain a return to the Vikings was possible.

“I think that’s why it makes it so crazy, because I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility,” Thielen told Vikings beat reporters on August 28. “I thought the next time I would be talking to you guys is when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring. So, this is pretty surreal. And again, I’m going to take advantage of every second that I’m back in this building.”

Further Details Emerge After Vikings Trade for Adam Thielen

The Vikings and Panthers swapped late-round draft picks in the Thielen trade, but that is just one of many noteworthy facets of it that have come to light in the hours since news broke.

Thielen is on a one-year, $8.7 million contract, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on X that the Vikings were expected to be on the hook for $7 million of that amid a report from colleague David Newton that the Panthers would not be taking on additional salary.

However, Seifert later corroborated reports that Thielen and the Vikings were working on a “revised contract”, offering “fuller context.

“The final value is likely to be less than $7 million,” Seifert posted.

“Another tidbit on Adam Thielen trade,” The Athletic’s Joe Person reported on X on August 27. “The conditional 7th in ‘26 MIN received becomes a 6th in ‘26 if Thielen is not active for 10 games or not on 53-man roster for 14 games.”

Reactions to Adam Thielen Trade Offer Reality Check

Reactions to the trade acknowledged the relatively steep price the Vikings paid for Thielen, a 35-year-old receiver on an expiring contract.

However, they also noted the Vikings’ need amid various issues.

“Look, is a fourth-round pick a little steep for one year of 35-year-old Adam Thielen? Perhaps,” Bring Me The Sports’ Will Ragatz posted on X on August 27. “But the Vikings needed this to happen for J.J. McCarthy’s sake. They’re in win-now mode and would’ve been in trouble early on without adding an impact receiver who knows their offense.

“Also (and I’m only somewhat kidding) Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] seems to do better with UDFAs than fourth-round picks anyways.”

That does not mean that Thielen will be his vintage self simply because of a change of scenery.

“If you’re expecting 2017 All-Pro Adam Thielen, you’re going to be disappointed,” Purple For The Win! posted on X on August 27. “But he also would have cost multiple 1st round picks and $30M+.

Thielen, 35, had 48 receptions for 615 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2024, but he posted a 103-1,014-4 line in 2023, which is encouraging for the Vikings.