The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly thinking it’s a «real possibility» that veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen could be released in the next few days.
With the new league year approaching on March 15, teams are crunching the numbers to see how they can pay more in free agency while making sure they stay under the NFL’s salary cap.
Thielen said last month that he knew there was a chance it could turn into a salary cap drop; he’s just under a $20 million salary cap for the 2023 campaign and the Vikings are roughly $15 million over the cap through Thursday. He is the second tallest on the team, and is no longer the team’s leading receiver.
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Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 8, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
That title goes to Justin Jefferson, who is still on his rookie contract and will have a salary cap of $4.175 million this year. Jefferson was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year after a franchise record season with 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns on 128 receptions in Year 3 at Minnesota.
«It’s kind of interesting,» Thielen said on «The Pat McAfee Show» in February. «We’re working on a few things because I have a large-cap hit… My contract is fully [guarantees] I think March 16.»
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Thielen restructured his contract with the Vikings last season to allow some salary cap flexibility, but that led to this number for 2023.
Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings gives a thumbs up while warming up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at US Bank Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Vikings would likely designate Thielen for a post-June 1 cut, which would only result in $6.55 million in dead money compared to $13.42 million saved for the salary cap. A pre-June 1 cut would be pretty much the opposite for Minnesota.
However, if both sides publicly say it won’t work for this season, perhaps a trade could get underway for the Vikings. Since Jefferson’s emergence as the star catcher for Kirk Cousins to throw at, Thielen’s role with the team has diminished.
But he still had 70 receptions for 716 yards last season with six touchdowns. He, too, had 10 touchdowns in 2021, and when Jefferson was just a rookie in 2020, Thielen totaled 925 yards with 14 touchdowns.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates with teammate Justin Jefferson (18) after catching a 15-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, on Thursday, November 24, 2022. in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-Kin)
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The 32-year-old can still create separation with his exceptional route career and his hands haven’t failed since he burst into the league in 2013 as an undrafted free agent.