NFL insider reveals 5 teams eyeing Adam Thielen with Derek Carr’s Saints in the mix (EXCLUSIVE)
Adam Thielen, a former wide receiver and two-time Pro Bowler, was released by the Minnesota Vikings this morning.
The #Vikings are releasing two-time Pro Bowl WR Adam Thielen today, per sources.
A onetime undrafted free agent from Minnesota State who went on to catch 55 touchdown passes for his hometown team, Thielen has plenty left in the tank at age 32 and wants to land with a contender. https://t.co/FxsFP9z7MX
The nine-year veteran, who has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings, was released due to not taking a pay cut as he was due almost $20 million for the 2023 season. The move will save the team $6.4 million in cap space this season as they leave behind $13.55 million in dead cap space.
Former NFL insider Reggie Roberts, who hosts Sportskeeda's Ballfather Podcast, said that there are five teams in the mix for Thielen. Of those, five teams include the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and Cleveland Browns.
Roberts said:
"A highly placed NFL team source says the Saints will “definitely” be in the mix of about four or five teams including Indianapolis and Cleveland to acquire veteran WR Adam Thielen, who was today released by the Minnesota Vikings."
Cleveland requires a receiver to complement Amari Cooper on the other side. He said that Thielen would give Deshaun Watson a true number two wideout after finishing the previous season with more than 1,110 receiving yards.
The Colts could pair Thieln up with Michael Pittman. Pittman is the No. 1 receiver in Indy, recording over 1,000 yards in 2021, and recorded a career-high 99 receptions last season. They could replace Parris Campbell, a free agent, with Thielen and upgrade the team.
The Saints recently signed quarterback Derek Carr, who could add another weapon to a receiving group that already includes Chris Olave and Michael Thomas.
Adam Thielen headlines the 2023 free agent wide receivers
With the release of Thielen, he headlined the top-five free agent wide outs.
Thielen has been named to the Pro Bowl twice as an All-Pro and has notched two 1,000 yard seasons.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had a big sophomore season in 2019 recording 111 receptions,1,426 yards, and seven touchdowns. This past season, in his lone season with Kansas City, he led wide receivers with 933 receiving yards.
Other top wide receivers this off-season include Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard.
This year's receiver free agent class isn't the deepest nor is the draft. Thielen has become one of the top options at being a free agent on the open market.
Thielen will resume his career with a new team next season.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Reggie Roberts and H/T Sportskeeda