The Carolina Panthers finalized the initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, it’s safe to say this team is ready to turn the corner to Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Before we get to that point, however, more decisions are being made with the roster and the Panthers just made a big one.
Panthers agree to trade WR Adam Thielen back to Minnesota
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panthers have agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings that will send wide receiver Adam Thielen back home plus a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Minnesota is expected to rework Thielen’s contract, so that the Panthers won’t have to absorb any of his remaining salary in the trade.
Thielen spent the first nine years of his career in Minnesota after being signed as an undrafted free agent back in 2014. He ranks Top-5 in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in Vikings franchise history and now gets the opportunity to return and work with quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
A few weeks back, Thielen shared that the main reason he decided to return for the 2025 season was because of the growth and development he saw from Panthers quarterback Bryce Young in 2024. Not being able to play out the season with Young again certainly adds a new wrinkle to potentially his final season. As for Young, he’ll be losing a trust-worthy veteran that’s become one of his favorite targets over the last two seasons.
Trading Thielen makes another roster decision more manageable
While it was a tough decision to part ways with the veteran wide receiver that many have come to respect inside the building, this decision helps right another decision made to the roster.
A few days back, Canales referred to the wide receiver position as “a very competitive room” and how trimming the position group would be a tough process to figure out.
Following the Thielen trade, the Panthers’ top wide receivers are now Xavier Legette and rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Behind those two, second-year Jalen Coker, Brycen Tremayne, and rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. earned roster spots with their consistent play throughout the summer. Where things got interesting was deciding who to keep between Hunter Renfrow and David Moore.
On Tuesday, Carolina made the tough decision to release Renfrow and keep Moore based on his contributions on special teams. It was a tough decision to make, because Renfrow certainly impressed the staff throughout training camp, even after dealing with a brief hamstring injury.
After making the trade with Thielen official, expect to see Renfrow get added back to the 53-man roster and take over Thielen’s role in the offense along with Coker.
