When the Carolina Panthers traded Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings, it was seen as a win-win for all parties.
The player had the chance to return home to the place where it all began. The franchise got decent compensation in return after some hard bargaining from general manager Dan Morgan.
Thielen was acquired by the Vikings to fill the void left by Jordan Addison after he was suspended for the first three games of 2025. He was still performing at a high level in Carolina. However, there were murmurings about the two-time Pro Bowler being gradually phased out over the summer as the Panthers' youth infusion took shape.