After a week or so of rumors, the Panthers and Vikings have finally worked out a trade to send WR Adam Thielen back to Minnesota. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Vikings will get Thielen, a conditional seventh-round pick for 2026, and a fifth-round pick for 2027. The Panthers will get a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder.
What They're Saying
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero: "The Vikings' season opener at Chicago is 12 days away. Adam Thielen -- who knows Kevin O'Connell's offense and has thrown in the offseason with J.J. McCarthy the past couple years -- now is expected to be on the field."
2025 Fantasy Football Impact
The trade makes obvious sense for both sides. Thielen not only heads back to a familiar offense in his home state, he joins a Minnesota team with issues at WR.
- Jordan Addison's suspended for the first three games.
- Jalen Nailor's coming off a hand injury.
- Even Justin Jefferson missed a lot of camp with a hamstring issue.
Thielen figures to face a decent early-season role, but he'll need to prove his fantasy worth before you should try him in lineups for any but the deepest of leagues.
Other Winners & Losers
The trade also makes obvious sense for Carolina, which should benefit from rolling with its young WRs.
Tetairoa McMillan should obviously open as the top wideout. Second-year WR Xavier Legette is expected to start opposite McMillan and has drawn positive reviews this summer.
Jalen Coker -- an undrafted free agent last year -- probably benefits the most. He looks like the top candidate to take over Thielen's vacated slot role.
Coker impressed in limited duty as a rookie and makes for at least a nice stash in dynasty leagues.