The Minnesota Vikings were not going to let the suspension of wide receiver Jordan Addison impact their ability to put together a high-end passing attack, as they made a trade with the Carolina Panthers to reacquire veteran Adam Thielen following his eight-year stint in purple and gold.
The Vikings are projected by many of the preseason prognosticators to regress in the 2025 season, as quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a functional rookie with zero NFL snaps. The growing pains any young quarterback goes through could be enough to sink Kevin O'Connell's ship in 2025.
However, the Vikings likely would not have made this trade if they didn't believe that McCarthy could put this team in a position to immediately win some big games. Not only does McCarthy have the best wide receiver in the league at his disposal in Justin Jefferson, but bringing Thielen back home should give the youngster the perfect underneath target.
Minnesota's message to the rest of the league is now crystal clear. They believe McCarthy can make them a winner immediately, and they are going all-in on his talents while he is on a rookie deal.
Vikings go all-in on J.J. McCarthy with smart Adam Thielen trade
When Addison returns, there's a good chance that Thielen, who caught 103 passes in 2023 and averaged over 60 receiving yards per game in 2024, will become the fourth-most targeted pass-catcher on this roster behind Jefferson, Addison, and tight end TJ Hockenson. That collection of talent is uncommonly excellent, and that all serves to benefit McCarthy.
While McCarthy has some arm talent and accuracy when forced off his spot, one of the main concerns about him as a prospect was the low volume of throws he had at Michigan. Could he lead an offense while throwing the ball 40 times week in and week out? With these receivers, that question could be an emphatic yes.
The NFC North is still very much anyone's game at this point. The Detroit Lions lost many of their key decision-makers, the Green Bay Packers failed to make any improvements in their biggest areas of weakness, and the Chicago Bears need to show that Caleb Williams is for real. Why can't a Thielen-enhanced receiving corps help McCarthy seize control of the division?
It remains to be seen if McCarthy can be a franchise quarterback, but after adding Thielen to this offense, McCarthy will have more than enough tools at his disposal to prove himself in the pros.