Panthers hold ideal trade chip for WR

[Montana Tom]

Panthers hold ideal trade chip to solve Vikings’ WR need in the form of a familiar face, creating a rare win-win scenario for both sides
The Vikings are reportedly looking for a wide receiver on the trade market and the Panthers just so happen to have the perfect fit.

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly in the market for a veteran wide receiver. The team’s running mate for Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, will miss the start of the season due to a suspension. The Carolina Panthers may have just the thing to help in the form of a familiar face.

Carolina’s wide receiver room has undergone a transformation in recent years and now boasts a number of talented youngsters who should be given the bulk of the work at wide receiver. This would allow third-year quarterback Bryce Young to establish valuable rapport with possible long-term solutions at the position.

And that means that former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen could be the perfect trade candidate for Carolina to offer up.

The Panthers should offer Adam Thielen to Minnesota in a trade package

Thielen agreed to a restructured contract with Carolina earlier this offseason, paying him a $1.5 million roster bonus in March and leaving $6.25 million in base salary left to be paid throughout the rest of the season. It makes him a fairly digestible contract to onboard for a team looking to acquire his services. Minnesota is currently listed at OverTheCap as having in excess of $26 million in cap space for the 2025 season.

A reunion between the two sides would take Thielen back to the place in which he got his footing as an NFL receiver. He played the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Vikings and posted over 500 receptions and nearly 6,700 receiving yards over that stretch before leaving to play in Carolina via free agency in 2023.

A receiver like Thielen, in the later stages of his career, would make some sense for the Vikings given that they’re looking for a bridge to survive until Addison is able to return from his three-game suspension — acquiring him would presumably come at a modest trade value cost. For Carolina, his departure would further open the door for names such as Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and others to all see incrementally more targets from Young. Given the Panthers are trying to fortify their future outlook on offense, sharing as much time on task with the young nucleus should be the priority anyway.

So, Minnesota, give the Panthers a call. And if the phone does indeed ring, the Panthers should be ready to pick up the phone and play ball on a trade.

[Chuckf]

Get it done Kwesi!!!

[JimmyinSD]

I love AT and would love to see him end his career in MN, but anything more than a conditional day 3 pick IMO is to much, if our window is indeed opening, we need every pick we can to keep the average salary low through hitting on rookie talents, and be able to keep it open as long as possible IMO.

[Waterboy]

I love AT and would love to see him end his career in MN,  but anything more than a conditional day 3 pick IMO is to much, if our window is indeed opening,  we need every pick we can to keep the average salary low through hitting on rookie talents, and be able to keep it open as long as possible IMO.

People act like late round picks are nothing, and I don't agree with that.  For Thielen, anything more than a late six makes no sense.  I'm guessing there are some notables with similar production and younger that will come available.  He still has been pretty good, but like Harrison Smith, there's no guarantee that they'll repeat their prior years production.

[comet52]

Not gonna happen.  Move on.

[greediron]

Just another fluff article to fill the dead space in the schedule. I highly doubt we trade anything for a 3 game bandaid at #4 WR


Not sure AT would offer much as a replacement to Addison.

[medaille]

Why would the Panthers trade their WR1 from last year to us to be our WR3/4? Do they hate having adequate receiving targets that much?

[MaroonBells]

The elephant in the room is Jalen Nailor. We just have no idea about the seriousness or the amount of time he'll be out. If it is serious and he does require surgery, likely keeping him out at least 6-8 weeks, or even the season, then a higher-end receiver like Thielen or a few others might make some sense. There are rumors the Vikings are pursuing much better receivers than the handful of names we've been throwing around. If true, that will tell us everything we need to know about Nailer's injury. Because otherwise, I think it makes much more sense to pursue the lower-end types, like Powell, Sherfield, KJO, as temporary replacements while Addison and Nailor are out. 

Thielen turns 35 in two days. There is no way in hell the Vikings will be giving up much in terms of draft capital to acquire him. An exchange of 7th rounders (one coming, one going) is probably all they'd need, assuming the Panthers are even open to the idea.