Vikings Finalizing Trade With Panthers to Bring Back Veteran WR Adam Thielen

After plenty of rumors this preseason, the Vikings finally added depth at the receiver position— and it's a familiar name for Minnesota fans.

On Wednesday NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Minnesota was finalizing a trade with the Panthers to bring back veteran wideout Adam Thielen. The terms of the deal: the Vikings send a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange for Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, and a conditional 2027 fifth-round pick.

Thielen spent 10 years with the Vikings before joining Carolina in free agency in 2023. Thielen was a fan favorite in Minnesota for those years. He attended Minnesota State and broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings. Thielen developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout and was named to an All-Pro team in 2017.

He now returns as a needed depth piece for Minnesota. Justin Jefferson should be good to go for the regular season after missing most of the preseason with a lingering hamstring injury but No. 2 wideout Jordan Addison is set to miss the first three games of the season due to suspension. Thielen will fill in his spot until Addison returns, at which point the Vikings will enjoy the veteran's talents at the WR3 spot.

The Panthers, meanwhile, have been looking to move Thielen in order to fully embrace the youth movement around Bryce Young. It's a good deal for both sides.