In an offseason of reunions, the Vikings are bringing one of Minnesota's native son back home.
With several questions surrounding their receiving room, the Vikings have acquired Adam Thielen from the Panthers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal brings Thielen back to where he has spent the majority of his life, as the Minnesota native joined the Vikings after going undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2013.
Thielen is reunited with Minnesota superstar Justin Jefferson, with whom he played for three seasons. The pair will now be looked upon to ease the transition of second-year QB JJ McCarthy, who steps in as the Vikings starter in 2025. It is worth noting that Thielen and McCarthy worked out together during the 2025 offseason.
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Here's how a WR room mired in uncertainty paved the way for a Minnesota reunion, and what Thielen means for McCarthy.
Adam Thielen trade
Vikings receive
- WR Adam Thielen
- Conditional 2026 seventh-round pick
- 2027 fifth-round pick
Panthers receive
- 2026 fifth-round pick
- 2027 fourth-round pick
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Vikings WR depth chart
| WR | Player |
| 1 | Justin Jefferson |
| 2 | Adam Thielen |
| 3 | Jalen Nailor |
| 4 | Tai Felton |
| 5 | Myles Price |
| SUSP | Jordan Addison |
| IR | Rondale Moore |
MORE: NFL All-Preseason team: Jaxson Dart, Isaac TeSlaa, Andrew Mukuba among biggest standouts in 2025
1. Justin Jefferson
Make no mistake, any and all wide receiver conversations in Minnesota begin with Jefferson, a four-time All-Pro.
Last season, Jefferson earned First Team All-Pro for the second time in his five-year career, catching 103 passes for 1,533 yards and a career-high-tying 10 touchdowns. He is just the fourth receiver in league history to record 1,000-plus yards in each of his first five seasons.
Good as Jefferson has been, he nursed a hamstring injury throughout the 2025 preseason and could be hobbled when Week 1 arrives.
2. Adam Thielen
Thielen, 35, is set to enter his 12th NFL season, returning to Minnesota for what figures to be the final chapter of his career.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Thielen spent the past two seasons in Carolina, serving as a reliable safety valve for former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. He played in 10 games in 2024, recording 48 catches for 615 yards, highlighted by a 99-yard performance against the Buccaneers.
Now back with the Vikings, Thielen has the chance to once again be a steady target, this time for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
3. Jalen Nailor
Nailor is headed to his fourth year with the Vikings after thriving in Year 3.
Standing in as Minnesota's third WR, Nailor caught 28 passes for 414 yards and a career-best six touchdowns in 2024. He could very well be WR2 given the state of things and can afford to ease into the role with Thielen's arrival.
4. Tai Felton
The Vikings used a third-round pick on Felton in 2025.
Felton is a 6-foot-1 speedster who ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine. During his final season at Maryland, Felton earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, catching a school-record 96 passes for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. He caught four passes for 46 yards in the 2025 preseason.
5. Myles Price
Price is an undrafted free agent who was named to the Vikings' 53-man roster.
While he stands at 5-foot-9, Price proved his value during the preseason, catching five of his nine targets for 38 yards and a touchdown.
SUSP. Jordan Addison
Addison will slide back into the WR2 slot in Week 4, but he is serving a three-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's Substances of Abuse Policy.
In 2024, Addison caught 63 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. Through two NFL seasons, he's caught 133 passes for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns, meaning he'll be a welcome addition once his suspension is up.
IR. Rondale Moore
Moore is set to miss his second consecutive season after suffering a season-ending injury during the preseason.
The 25-year-old wideout signed a one-year deal with the Vikings in 2025 and was placed on the season-ending IR after his injury. His future with the franchise is uncertain.