The Vikings will release former All-Pro wide receiver Adam Thielen on Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Thursday that Thielen’s release was a “real possibility.” The 32-year-old is coming off of a 70 reception season with 716 yards and six touchdowns.
He has two years left of his four-year, $64 million deal with the team. If retained, Thielen would make $11.8 million in base salary and $1.5 million as a roster bonus in 2023. He carries a cap hit of over $19 million for the year, according to Spotrac.
Pelissero adds that the two sides discussed a restructured deal to lower that cap number, but instead he will look for a new start elsewhere.
Still a productive player, the Minnesota native had taken a backseat in the Vikings offense to young superstar Justin Jefferson in recent seasons. Jefferson has 4,825 and 25 touchdowns since entering the league in 2020. Thielen has been a valuable red zone threat, with 30 touchdowns in that span, but hasn’t broken 1,000 yards in a season since 2018.
Pelissero says Thielen “wants to land with a contender” as he prepares to now enter free agency.
