Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen had two productive seasons as a member of the Carolina Panthers. He caught 103 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 and added 48 receptions for 615 yards and five touchdowns last season.
The Panthers traded Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings in August for a pair of draft picks, but his time in Minnesota has come to an end as he was waived by the Vikings this week. Thielen plans to retire from the NFL after the current campaign, but he’s looking for a home for the rest of the season.
Panthers listed as a potential destination for Adam Thielen
So, would it make sense for the Panthers to have a reunion with Thielen? Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports seems to think so, as he listed the Panthers as a top potential landing spot for the veteran pass-catcher.
From Benjamin:
“Wouldn't it be wild if the Panthers acquired two Day 3 picks for Thielen, only to reintroduce him to the wide receiver room a few months later? It's not the most ridiculous scenario now, with Carolina suddenly in the mix for the NFC South thanks to occasionally elite late-game composure from Bryce Young, who developed a clear rapport with Thielen during their time together. Thielen and his family know the Charlotte area well, and he could play more of a secondary role with Tetairoa McMillan now entrenched as the No. 1 target.”
The Panthers suddenly find themselves in the mix for a playoff spot in the NFC, and thus they could look to bolster the roster to try to secure their first playoff berth since 2017. Integrating Thielen back into the mix could be a relatively smooth process as he’s already familiar with the city, organization and quarterback Bryce Young.
Plus, bringing back Thielen wouldn’t require a long-term investment on the part of the Panthers since he plans to hang it up after the season. For those reasons a reunion could make some serious sense for both sides. Let's see if it happens.
In addition to the Panthers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos were also listed as potential landing spots for Thielen by Benjamin.