General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota Vikings continue to collect a hoard of future Day 3 draft picks, with their most recent deal involving third-year pro Mekhi Blackmon raising some eyebrows.
The Vikings are now projected to hold 11 selections in the 2026 draft alone, per Over the Cap, leaving fans waiting for the next domino to fall — like a trade with the Carolina Panthers for fan-favorite Adam Thielen.
It’s no secret that the Vikings have a need at wide receiver, with starter Jordan Addison set to serve a three-game NFL suspension to open the season. But with roster cuts now in full swing, Minnesota will have options to add a wide receiver while preserving its trove of future draft capital.
And while Thielan’s experience in Minnesota is the driving factor in a potential trade, the team could soon target another former Viking with a wealth of experience in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Former Minnesota Vikings WR K.J. Osborn could be the perfect alternative to an Adam Thielen trade
Vikings fans are excited about the prospects of a Thielen reunion, and reportedly, so is the Detroit Lakes native.
But the team also has to be realistic. Thielen just celebrated his 35th birthday, and the price will have to be right for Minnesota to make a deal.
K.J. Osborn represents an intriguing Plan B for the Vikings after getting released by the Washington Commanders on Tuesday. He was a productive player under O’Connell's watch in 2022 and 2023, topping 500 receiving yards in both years with eight total touchdown receptions.
Osborn has failed to build on that success since leaving Minnesota as a free agent in 2024, but his first mistake was joining a dumpster-fire situation with former coach Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots.
He was mercifully waived in December in what ESPN’s Adam Schefter called a “mutual decision,” and he’s now looking for a new team for the second time in as many years.
It would make sense for the Vikings to extend Osborn a lifeline. He’s now a depressed asset who the team could bring back on a veteran minimum contract, with the added bonus of knowing the player. Osborn also wouldn’t be a major threat to rookie Tai Felton, who the team will be looking to develop and get on the field in 2025.
Getting a deal done for Thielen should still be the top priority. But if the Panthers are playing hardball on the compensation, a pivot to Osborn is worth watching as both a short-term solution with longer-term benefits, as Minnesota’s newfound wealth of draft capital could come in handy down the road.