The market for receivers in NFL free agency has added a two-time Pro Bowler in Adam Thielen, a veteran player who will likely draw a lot of interest on March 15.
On Thursday, it was reported that the Minnesota Vikings could soon be parting ways with Adam Thielen after nine years with the organization. The rumors became a reality on Friday when ESPN NFL insider Tom Pelissero revealed that the organization will be cutting the 32-year-old today.
Adam Thielen had a memorable run with the Vikings. He went undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2014 and was a back-of-the-depth chart player for the team over his first two seasons. However, by his third year, he firmly established himself as a starting-caliber player with a 967-yard and five-touchdown showing in 2016.
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Over the next two seasons, Thielen would become the top option in the Vikings’ pass game. Earning Pro Bowl honors and surpassing 1,000 yards receiving. However, since 2019 he has had difficulties staying on the field and has seen his stats take a steep decline with fellow receiver Justin Jefferson’s rise to superstar status.
Nevertheless, there are many rival teams around the NFL that will see the value he can bring to a team as a high-level WR2 and for an affordable rate. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that could pursue Adam Thielen in NFL free agency.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are badly in need of more reliable and proven players at wide receiver in 2023. It was a major weakness for them all of last season and it is something they will certainly address in NFL free agency and this year’s draft. If the team is looking for an affordable option to pair with a top receiver selected in April, Thielen would be an excellent fit on a short-term prove-it contract.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are always looking for offensive weapons, and with it far from a guarantee that the team will re-sign tight end, Dalton Schultz, they need to make sure Dak Prescott has impact weapons beyond CeeDee Lamb.
Adam Thielen stats (2022): 70 catches, 716 yards, 6 TD, 42.1 YPG
With Michael Gallup proving unreliable in 2022, Thielen would be a strong safety net option that brings depth and makes their receiving corps. even better next season.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills want a strong second option to star receiver Stefon Diggs. It is why they took a flyer on Cole Beasley twice last year and were one of the teams making a strong push for Odell Beckham Jr. late in the season. However, the team is cash-strapped and will likely lose a couple of key players on defense in free agency. The team could lighten the blow on those losses by finally getting an established star to be the Robin to their in-house Batman that is Diggs.
Baltimore Ravens
We still don’t know for sure if Lamar Jackson will be back in Baltimore next season. But for whoever is under center in 2023, that quarterback needs some better weapons on the outside. Adam Thielen isn’t the superstar receiver the Ravens badly need, but he is certainly an upgrade over what they have and could be cheap option for a team that could be throwing a huge amount of money at Jackson this spring.
New York Jets
Unlike their in-stadium rivals, the New York Jets have a talented WR1 in rookie of the year Garrett Wilson. However, beyond the Ohio State star, there is not much else. That is why Adam Thielen would be a fantastic addition to a team that needs more reliable skills players on offense. Many of the key players on the unit are young, and if the team does trade for Aaron Rodgers, the future Hall-of-Famer will need a target that already knows the finer nuances of getting open consistently in the NFL.