(KNSI) – The Minnesota Vikings are bringing back Detroit Lakes native Adam Thielen in a trade.
The Vikings gave the Carolina Panthers a 2026 fifth-round draft pick and a 2027 fourth-round selection. The trade also includes conditional picks heading to Minnesota.
The 35-year-old returns to purple after spending the 2023 season with Carolina following his departure from Minnesota. Thielen’s homecoming addresses a critical need for receiver depth, particularly with Jordan Addison facing a three-game suspension to start the season.
Thielen’s story remains one of the NFL’s most compelling undrafted success tales. The Minnesota State Mankato product signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and developed into one of the franchise’s most productive receivers over nine-plus seasons.
During his initial Vikings tenure, Thielen became the first undrafted player in NFL history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2017-2018). He accumulated over 6,300 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns while establishing himself as a fan favorite.
The Vikings open their season on Monday, September 8th, against the Chicago Bears.
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