Why did Vikings release Adam Thielen? All-Pro WR set to headline 2023 free agent class
The Minnesota Vikings have continued to make business moves this off-season by releasing All-Pro wide receiver Adam Thielen early Friday, on March 10.
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 former undrafted free agent spent the last nine seasons in Minnesota and has made two Pro Bowls and once as a second-team All-Pro. He was released due to his big cap hit of $19.97 million and refusing to take a pay cut.
I'm told the Vikings will release WR Adam Thielen this morning, marking the end of an era for a Minnesota icon. Thielen had a $19.97mm cap hit for 2023 and, given the thin WR FA market, had no incentive to take a big pay cut or reduced role.
The move will free up $6.4 million in cap space in 2023 as the team takes on $13.55 million in dead cap sapce.
WR Adam Thielen's expected release will leave behind $13.55M of dead cap with the #Vikings, freeing up $6.4M of space in 2023.
Thielen earned over $65M in 9 seasons with Minnesota.
spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-…
Thielen had a good nine seasons in purple and gold. He started his career off as a special-teamer and even scored his first career touchdown on a blocked punt.
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Adam Thielen's first and last touchdown for the Vikings. 💜 twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/OPWgmA3mOY
In his third season, he was a full-time wide receiver as he recorded 967 yards and five touchdowns. In 2017 he was a second-team All-Pro as he recorded 91 receptions, 1,276 yards, and four touchdowns.
The next season, in 2018, he recorded a career-high 113 receptions and a career-high 1,373 receiving yards. In 2020, he scored a career-high 14 touchdowns.
Top 5 free agent WRs available after Adam Thielen's release
With Thielen being released, he's one of the best receivers on the open market. Thielen, Jakobi Meyers, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Lazard, and Odell Beckham Jr. highlight the top-five free agent wide receivers in a weak receiver free agent class.
In the last two seasons, Meyers recorded 150 receptions, 1,670 yards, and two touchdowns. Smith-Schuster helped the Chiefs' receiving core this past season on their way to their Super Bowl victory and has recorded 933 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season.
Lazard recorded a career-high 60 receptions and 788 yards in 2022 for Green Bay. OBJ didn't play last season as he was recovering from a torn ACL injury, but is still a productive receiver this late into his career.
Adam Thielen net worth: How much did Vikings WR earn in his final year in Minnesota?
According to spotrac.com, Adam Thielen made $14.3 million in his last season in Minnesota and in his nine-year career, he has earned $65.1 million.
He was set to make $19.1 million this season with the Vikings, but refused to take a pay cut which resulted in his release.
The Vikings will enter 2023 without Thielen, Eric Kendricks, and most likely Za'Darius Smith. Dalvin Cook is rumored to be on the trade block and could also depart from the team.