Adam Thielen, born on August 22, 1990, grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and aspired to make his birthland proud. In reverence for GOAT NFL players Cris Carter and Randy Moss, Thielen trained as a wide receiver like his idols. His athleticism was evident when he excelled in high school football, basketball, baseball, and golf.
And paving his own road, his skills got him to the promising gates of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Thielen was instantly deemed a legend in his college career, earning him Minnesota State’s Offensive Player of the Year title.
His stats brought him into the spotlight, but he wasn’t immediately invited to the 2013 NFL Combine. With one door of opportunity at the Regional Combine in Chicago, Thielen performed with all his might and proved his capability.
Yet, he went undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft. Thielen then signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings, making his official debut in 2014. Within his 9-year tenure, Thielen exhibited his competency to lead the team through several championships.
Needless to say, he earned two Pro Bowls and a pair of 1000-yard seasons. His legacy is etched by a stellar record of 70 catches, 716 yards, and eight straight 100+ yard receiving games and 74 receptions in a half-season.
Vikings found a true warrior in Thielen in his peak years between 2014 and 2017. But his stats started dwindling after a few years. However, fans still cheered for him to recover his form.
In March 2023, Adam Thielen was released from the Minnesota Vikings after evaluating his production since 2022, which has recorded his lowest scores. But that wasn’t the only reason. Vikings were also struggling with the salary cap of roughly $19.9 million for the current season. Hence, they had to terminate Thielen’s contract on the grounds of regulating their cap.
What Did Adam Thielen Do?
Adam Thielen proved himself a reliable wide receiver for several years, contributing to the Vikings’ victories. However, every player goes through a rough patch (pun intended) on the field. Thielen produced incredible stats from his first game in 2014 to 2017, which recorded his peak performance.
But his graph seems to have been on a downward slope since then, recording the lowest stats in 2022. This compelled the Vikings to contemplate his position on the roster for the next season. Thielen expressed his stance on the situation–
“You know, it’s really hard to explain the entire situation.”
“I don’t think there was ever a point where I was unhappy with what I was doing. It was just pretty clear that they had a different vision for me than maybe I had for a way that I could help the team win games. There wasn’t a wrong thing. There wasn’t disrespect on either side. I think it was just time for both sides to move on.”
By the end of his tenure, Thielen contributed to Vikings’s rankings as the third in team history with 534 receptions and 55 receiving touchdowns. The team also ranked fourth with 6682 receiving yards, owing to Thielen’s performance.
Why Are the Vikings Not Using Thielen?
One of the significant reasons for the Vikings not using Thielen is the team’s tight salary cap. By ending Thielen’s contract, the team accounted for reserves of an additional $6.4 million. The combined reason of salary cap and Adam’s declining stats led to the termination of a decade-long professional relationship.
Thielen explains the situation and expresses his gratitude for a respectful end–
“I think there are like two sides of it. … It was a bummer. I didn’t want to leave Minnesota. I wanted to end my career there. Obviously, that would be the perfect fairy-tale way to do it, right? But that’s not reality. I’m so thankful for that organization, (general manager) Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah) and (Kevin O’Connell) and the staff. The way they handled this throughout the process was first-class.”
Adam Thielen then signed with the Carolina Panthers in March 2023 with a three-year contract at $25 million.
What are your thoughts on this switcheroo? Do you think the Vikings should have retained Adam for more years? Or is he more suited with the Panthers?
Let us know in the comments section below.
