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Carolina Panthers sign WR Adam Thielen to 3 - Year Deal worth $25 Million
Introduction
On Sunday, March 19th, 2023 the Carolina Panthers signed the veteran wide receiver and former long - time Minnesota Viking, Adam Thielen, to a 3 - year contract worth approximately $25 million. Thielen will help fill the void of a veteran wide receiver the Carolina Panthers lost when they included D J Moore in a trade with the Chicago Bears for the first pick of the NFL draft.
Contract Details
Thielen just recently signed a 3 - year contract valued at around $25,000,000 with the Carolina Panthers. The current deal includes a $8,335,000 signing bonus, $14,000,000 in guaranteed money, and an average annual salary of $8,333,333. In 2023, Thielen will make his base salary of $1,165,000 as well as a signing bonus of $8,335,000, while carrying a cap hit of $3,332,000, and a dead cap value of $14,000,000.
Contract Notes Include
- $14 Million in total Guaranteed Money (Signing Bonus + 2023 - 2024 NFL Salary + $4.5 Million of 2024 - 2025 NFL Salary)
- 2024 Roster Bonus: $2 Million (3rd - League Day of 2024)
- 2025 Roster Bonus: $1.5 Million (3rd - League Day of 2025)
- 2026 - 2027 Years Automatically Voided
Thielen stated on, "The Pat McAfee Show," that he had conversations with the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and a few other teams, but he felt like the Carolina Panthers provided him with the best possibility to win a Super Bowl, but that is nonsense. Both the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Denver Broncos have a better chance of making it to a Super Bowl than the Carolina Panthers do over the upcoming 3 - NFL seasons, but that is just my opinion obviously not his.
Media Statement
"Honestly, I wasn't planning on going to the Panthers. I went on a visit there just to see what they were about. I wanted to go somewhere I felt had an opportunity to win a Super Bowl. When I went there, I sat down with coach, I sat down with the GM, and sat down with all the coaching staff and I felt like Carolina was the place to do that," Adam Thielen exclaimed. “I feel there is a real chance to win a Super Bowl. That gets me so excited.''
The Carolina Panthers Returning Wide Receivers
The Carolina Panthers top wide receivers returning from the last NFL season are Terrace Marshall Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., and Shi Smith. They combined for a total of 77 - catches.
Thielen brings a leadership presence to the receiver room of the Carolina Panthers who were seeking that even prior to the D J Moore trade to the Chicago Bears. Moore had been more of a leader through example.
Thielen’s Presence in the National Football League
Adam was released by the Minnesota Vikings following his 10 - seasons of service with the NFC North NFL franchise, and he was designated as a pre - June 1st roster cut so that the Minnesota Vikings could inevitably avoid his salary cap hit for the upcoming 2023 - 2024 NFL season.
The Minnesota born native, who played his college ball at Minnesota State - Mankato University, happened to rank 3rd - overall on the Minnesota Vikings' all - time receiving list with 534 - receptions, trailing only the great Hall of Famers in Cris Carter as well as Randy Moss.
The now 32 - year - old Thielen, had 70 - catches which was good for 716 - receiving yards and 6 - touchdowns during the last NFL season. However, Adam’s role started to decrease down the stretch last season, as Thielen ranked 4th in targets behind the younger and much more talented wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, T. J. Hockenson, and K. J. Osborn over the final 5 - games of the 2022 - 2023 NFL season.
The Minnesota Vikings made it very clear in their conversations throughout the 2023 NFL offseason that Adam, who was scheduled to earn $19.97 million in 2023, would have a diminished place in addition to a significant pay reduction if he restructured his contract in order to stay with the Minnesota Vikings. The wide receiver said that he hoped to retire as a Minnesota Viking, but that he also wanted to have, "my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level."
Thielen, whom the Minnesota Vikings called, "a selfless teammate," has record 6,682 - receiving yards as well as 55 - touchdowns over his NFL career. Adam’s best NFL season came during his 2018 - 2019 campaign, when he pulled in 113 - receptions that resulted in 1,373 – yards, and 9 - touchdowns. Thielen was the team's Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee for the 2022 - 2023 season of the National Football League.
Comment on Thielen from Minnesota Vikings G. M.
"He is the best representation of what the Minnesota Vikings stand for," the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo - Mensah, mentioned.
Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- Second - Team NFL All - Pro Selection (2017)
- 2 - Time NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2017, 2018)
NFL Records
- Most Consecutive 100 - Yard Receiving Games with 8
Sources:
“Adam Thielen headed to Panthers on 3 - year deal, source says”, David Newton, espn.com, Sunday, March 19, 2023.
“Adam Thielen”, pro-football-reference.com, March 22, 2023.
“Adam Thielen”, spotrac.com, March 22, 2023.