Minnesota Vikings Trade Draft Picks to Reacquire WR Adam Thielen

Adam Thielen, the Minnesota Vikings wide receiver, has been traded back to the Vikings from the Carolina Panthers in a deal involving multiple draft picks. Thielen, a Minnesota native and former undrafted star who played nearly a decade for the Vikings before two seasons in Carolina, and his family are ecstatic about the homecoming, as captured in a viral video of his young daughter celebrating the news. The trade reunites Thielen with the team he made his name with and positions him as an immediate starter alongside Justin Jefferson, especially important during Jordan Addison's suspension. The Vikings are hopeful Thielen will mentor second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and add veteran leadership to a squad with Super Bowl aspirations. The deal required the Vikings to give up a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick, reflecting the value they place on Thielen's experience and production. Fans and the Thielen family alike see this return as a heartwarming reunion that benefits both player and team.