Two-time Pro Bowler Adam Thielen is returning to practice just in time for the Carolina Panthers to trade him. A former undrafted free agent, the Minnesota State product overcame his humble beginnings to establish himself as one of the league’s more reliable receivers in the late 2010s. While he has slowed down a bit in recent years, he remains a reliable player in Carolina’s offense. The veteran was the only good part of the 2023 passing attack and he put up good film in Week 3’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders. While a hamstring injury sidelined him for a portion of the contest, he still recorded three receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Unfortunately, this could be the end of the road for the 34-year-old wideout. At 1-5, Carolina’s season is effectively over as the team embraces yet another rebuild. Thielen can still play, but the Panthers are better off seeing what they have in first-round pick Xavier Legette and undrafted free agent Jalen Coker. Adam Thielen will return to practice on Wednesday and, assuming he’s healthy, the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers should try to trade for him.
Adam Thielen said he thinks the plan is to open his 21-day practice window on Wednesday. He has missed all four games of Panthers’ losing streak.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 21, 2024
Saints, Chargers Could Trade For Panthers Adam Thielen
After coming out of the gate looking like the best team in football, the injury-riddled Saints dropped their past five games while losing key players at every position. Head coach Dennis Allen must make the playoffs if he hopes to keep his job, but ownership probably won’t sign off on a blockbuster trade. The team was reportedly in the thick of the Davante Adams trade sweepstakes, but that was before fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler replaced the injured Derek Carr. While some teams would accept their fate, the signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the Alvin Kamara extension suggests New Orleans will not tank and rebuild.
While it’s difficult to imagine the team giving up the draft capital required to land someone like Diontae Johnson or Christian Kirk, New Orleans could trade a late-round pick to their division rivals for Adam Thielen. Seeing as DeAndre Hopkins netted a conditional fourth-round pick, it’s safe to assume Thielen wouldn’t cost anything more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick. Giving up that type of draft capital won’t impact the Saints ability to compete in 2025 and it could help the team stay afloat in 2024.
Helping Herbert
Justin Herbert is getting healthy and the Los Angeles Chargers passing attack is coming alive. In Week 7’s Monday Night Football matchup, the quarterback completed an impressive 69.2% of his passes for 349 yards, easily his most of the season. However, the Chargers couldn’t find the endzone in their 17-15 loss, largely because of their atrocious wide receivers. Even when Quentin Johnston and second-round pick Ladd McConkey are on the field, this is one of the weakest depth charts in football. This room needs more experience at the receiver position, and Adam Thielen could be the perfect trade target.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to win with defense and a strong running game, so it’s hard to envision him acquiring a top-level receiver at the deadline. With that disclaimer out of the way, he has to know that his current weapons simply aren’t good enough, so trying to trade for a cheap complementary receiver like Adam Thielen makes all the sense in the world. Los Angeles might not win the AFC West this year, but they’re in the thick of the Wild Card race, and Thielen fills a much-needed hole on this roster.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
