Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen agreed to a $2 million pay cut to facilitate his return to the hometown team, sources confirmed on Saturday. This decision will allow Thielen to earn approximately 5 million dollars next season. Negotiations between the Vikings and the Carolina Panthers extended for more than a week, partly due to compensation for draft picks. Finally, the Vikings agreed to a package that involved a fifth-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2027 to the Panthers, in exchange for Thielen, a conditional seventh-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027. Another key factor was Thielen’s contract. The Panthers had given him a $1.5 million raise during the offseason, bringing his total compensation to $7 million for 2025. During negotiations, the Panthers refused to cover a portion of Thielen’s salary. Thielen’s decision to accept the pay cut was crucial to finalizing the deal.
Thielen, born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, played at the college level at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and spent the first 10 seasons of his professional career with the Vikings.Obviously, you know without me saying it, how much this place means to me. The state, the city, this organization, [the property], the coaches, the players. I couldn’t be more excited, and there’s nothing I can say to express how excited I am to be back home with my family.
Adam Thielen
