On Sunday, it was reported that former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. The pact includes $10 million in the first year.
Sources: The #Panthers are finalizing a 3-year deal with former #Vikings WR Adam Thielen, as his second act begins in Carolina. pic.twitter.com/briLunUjpg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2023
What led to this deal coming together? How does Thielen help Carolina? What was his production last year?
What led to Adam Thielen signing with the Panthers?
On March 10, the Carolina Panthers traded up to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears. In exchange, Carolina sent over enormous draft capital, as well as star wide receiver D.J. Moore. With Moore gone, Carolina did not have a real No. 1 option at the wide receiver position. To make matters worse, the 2023 crop of free-agent wide receivers wasn’t as strong as it has been in past years.
However, that didn’t slow down the Panthers and Scott Fitterer, who seem to be cooking something. The team inked a deal with Thielen and is now also looking to sign former Jaguars and Lions receiver (and current free agent) DJ Chark. Both receivers had visits to Charlotte, N.C., and there’s optimism that Chark will follow Thielen to the Panthers.
Update: The #Panthers are "attempting" to sign both former #Vikings WR Adam Thielen and former #Lions WR DJ Chark, according to ESPN
Carolina recently traded away WR1 DJ Moore to the #Bears and need to replace him. pic.twitter.com/KPcRrARcgy
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 19, 2023
How does this help Carolina?
This helps the Panthers significantly. Quite simply, they went from having no WR1 to having a respected veteran leading their receiving corps. (See, Packers, it’s not that hard to sign a wide receiver!) Carolina’s offense now looks threatening in a division that is equivalent to a trash can on fire.
Carolina’s offense now consists of the draft’s top quarterback (likely Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud), running back Miles Sanders, tight end Hayden Hurst, and Thielen. The team also retained most of its offensive line from last season.
The Panthers’ wide receiver room now has at least one veteran (possibly two) that will be good for whichever quarterback Carolina decides to draft. (If, by some chance, they don’t take a quarterback, the fanbase would riot and Panthers Twitter might turn into the French Revolution).
Not only does this signing boost the offense, but it’s good news for the Panthers’ social media team; they can finally tread the comment section and not see “we need a wide receiver” tweets a thousand times a day. Hats off to them for working overtime during this insane free agency.
admin can read the comments freely again 😅 pic.twitter.com/zmnG6JrWZQ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 20, 2023
What was Thielen’s production last year?
Thielen had good production during his final season with the Minnesota Vikings, logging 70 receptions for 716 yards and six touchdowns. He managed to have an impact despite fighting for reps alongside stars like Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and T.J. Hockenson.
All in all, Thielen is a great free-agent pickup for the Carolina Panthers.
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