When the Minnesota Vikings began to make alluring glances at a possible trade for wide receiver Adam Thielen, there was nothing much the Carolina Panthers could do about it. They had the leverage, considering the player was under contract, but the eventual outcome was a foregone conclusion.
Thielen is a hometown boy. He came through as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State to become a Pro Bowler. Getting the chance to finish his career where it all started and move his family back to a more familiar place was too tempting to ignore. But for general manager Dan Morgan, this was all about getting the best deal.