Panthers to bring in WR Adam Thielen for a visit, Andy Dalton signs a two year $10 million deal
Carolina Panthers will bring WR Adam Thielen for a visit, after signing veteran QB Andy Dalton to a two-year, $10 million contract
The Carolina Panthers are set to host free agent wide receiver Adam Thielen on a visit tomorrow, according to NFL networks Ian Rapoport.
Thielen was released by the Minnesota Vikings after 10 seasons in an effort to avoid the veteran’s $20 million salary cap.
Thielen, 32, caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns last season as the complementary possession receiver to All-Star receiver Justin Jefferson.
He is a two-time Pro Bowler who has seen 90 or more targets in six seasons and has career totals of 534 receptions, 6,682 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns.
Thielen has 30 touchdown receptions over the past three seasons, which ranks fifth in the NFL.
The Minnesota Vikings announced that they would release wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Thielen spent 10 seasons with the Vikings after making his debut in 2014 and has made two Pro Bowls.
The Vikings first signed Thielen to a three-year, $1.485 million contract as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in May 2013, where he played on the practice squad.
Since making his NFL regular season debut in 2014, he has 534 receptions for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns in 135 career games (101 starts) for the Vikes. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2017 and 2018.
The Panthers have also apparently found their interim quarterback, agreeing to a two-year, $10 million contract with unrestricted free agent Andy Dalton, according to two people familiar with the situation.
One of those people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal can’t be signed until Wednesday, said the deal includes $8 million in guaranteed money.
He Panthers traded last week to get the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and will almost certainly use it on a quarterback, a position that has seen repeated losses over the past five seasons in Carolina.
So while Dalton could open the season as a starter if the rookie isn’t ready to play, eventually he is expected to be relegated to the role of mentor and backup quarterback.
Dalton, 35, has spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including the first nine with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He played last season with the New Orleans Saints going 6-8 as a starter with 18 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
Veteran signal caller Andy Dalton also agreed to a two-year contract with the Panthers.
Dalton went 6-8 as a starter with 18 touchdown passes and nine interceptions last season.