On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings released Adam Thielen, a star wide receiver, and added his name to the pool of free agents in the market. Thielen, a native of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, initially joined the Vikings in 2013 as an undrafted free agent, and eventually became a full-time roster player in 2016. He quickly gained recognition as one of football's top feel-good underdog stories, developing into one of the NFL's leading receivers over the latter half of the 2010s.
Although Thielen's production has decreased over the years and he is now 33 years old, he is likely to attract interest in a relatively shallow 2023 free-agent wide receiver class. Reporter Evan Massey claims that the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants have shown interest in the former Pro Bowler, with both teams being logical destinations for Thielen.
The Colts, who are expected to select a quarterback with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft, are in urgent need of providing their new quarterback with the best possible supporting cast. Michael Pittman Jr., the team's top wideout, would undoubtedly benefit from additional receiver support, and Thielen could help meet that need.
Meanwhile, the Giants have already made a significant addition to their pass-catching arsenal by trading for Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. Sterling Shepard, a standout receiver, also agreed to a one-year contract extension. Despite this, the Giants' leading receiver last season, Darius Slayton, had only 724 yards, making Thielen a desirable addition to their roster.
Thielen, who stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds, caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns for the Vikings, helping them clinch the NFC North division title.
