Adam Thielen joined the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent from a Division II faculty and went on to develop into a two-time Pro-Bowl choice and the third main receiver in franchise historical past.
By Reuters
Last Updated: 10/03/23 5:58pm
Minnesota Vikings broad receiver Adam Thielen has spent virtually a decade on the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings launched broad receiver Adam Thielen on Friday after 9 seasons.
The 32-year-old Minnesota native and undrafted free agent from a Division II faculty turned a two-time Pro Bowl choice and the third-leading receiver in franchise historical past.
Only Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss caught extra passes in a Vikings uniform than Thielen (534).
His launch is a cost-cutting transfer for Minnesota, which can save about $6.4magainst the wage cap in 2023 whereas taking a dead-cap hit of $13.6m.
“Adam will eternally be part of the Minnesota Vikings household and historical past,” normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mentioned in an announcement Friday.
“Setting the usual together with his play on the sphere, being a selfless teammate, and making a everlasting impression in the neighborhood, Adam’s affect is important.
“We are grateful for all the pieces he dropped at the Vikings group since arriving in 2013, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to work with him during the last yr. He is one of the best illustration of what the Minnesota Vikings ought to stand for.”
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Thielen signed a four-year, $64m extension in April 2019, with the perimeters agreeing to restructure the deal in 2021 and 2022.
Thielen has 30 landing catches over the previous three seasons, fifth-most within the NFL, and will generate curiosity in a comparatively skinny receiver market.
The Vikings first signed Thielen to a three-year, $1.485m deal as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in May 2013.
“Adam’s story is one many know and admire and an unimaginable instance of what a relentless pursuit of a aim can in the end accomplish,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned in an announcement.
“For over a decade, Adam honed his craft to develop into one of the crucial well-recognised broad receivers within the NFL. Over that very same time, he poured a lot of his time into his dwelling state, which made it much more particular for him to earn our 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination.
“I personally leaned on Adam for his work ethic, management and counsel a number of occasions to assist get our workforce the place we needed it to be final season.”
Since making his debut in 2014, he has gained 6,682 receiving yards and scored 55 touchdowns in 135 video games (101 begins) for the Vikings. He earned Pro Bowl honours in 2017 and 2018.
