The Minnesota Vikings enter the 2025 NFL season with a second-year quarterback, who has yet to take a regular-season snap.
For the young signal-caller to succeed, he needs weapons around him, and with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games, the team is reportedly making calls for a two-time Pro Bowl receiver.
Vikings Explore Trade for 2-Time Pro Bowl Receiver with Addison Facing Suspension
Addison has been an elite second option alongside Justin Jefferson for the Vikings since the organization drafted him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Addison has totaled 133 catches, 1,786 yards, and 19 touchdowns in two seasons.
However, the third-year wideout is set to miss the first three games of the 2025 season after being suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, leaving a significant hole in Minnesota’s receiving corps.
Adding to the concern, Jalen Nailor, listed as the third wide receiver on the Vikings’ depth chart, is day-to-day with a hand injury suffered during training camp.
With the week-one availability of both Addison and Nailor in question, second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy could have little help outside of Jefferson as he begins his NFL career. As a result, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the team is reportedly exploring a trade for Adam Thielen from the Panthers.
Vikings have inquired about trading for Panthers WR Adam Thielen, per league sources.
With WR Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension and Jalen Nailor dealing with a hand injury, Thielen could wind up starting opening night for the Vikings if they can complete the trade. pic.twitter.com/ep7lrSbYo2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 22, 2025
The Vikings know Adam Thielen well, signing him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2013. He had a terrific career in Minnesota, playing nine seasons and totaling 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns while earning two Pro Bowl selections.
The catch on Thielen’s 1st TD and the route on his 2nd 😱🔥 @athielen19 @Vikings pic.twitter.com/jNlCUBpMAT
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 23, 2020
Thielen left the Vikings for the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2023 season. Despite being 35 years old, he remains productive, recording over 1,000 yards in 2023, and averaged 61.5 receiving yards per game in 10 appearances last season.
He wouldn’t be the starter he once was in Minnesota, but given the severe lack of depth at wide receiver, he could serve as a reliable target for JJ McCarthy until Addison and Nailor return.
The team invested a top-ten pick in McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft, and if they want him to succeed in his first season as the team’s starter, adding Thielen would be a smart move for the Vikings.
Minnesota plays its final preseason game tonight and has two more weeks before the regular season begins to make a move for Thielen. As Schefter notes, the team is already in active talks with Carolina, and a trade could realistically happen if both sides can agree on compensation for the veteran wide receiver.
