Former Vikings receiver Adam Thielen will sign with Carolina

Former Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen is signing with the Carolina Panthers.

The Detroit Lakes (Minn.) High School and Minnesota State Mankato product will sign a three-year contract, according to media reports.

The Vikings released Thielen on March 10. By cutting the 32-year-old, 10-year veteran, the team made room under the NFL's salary cap.

Thielen became a free agent, able to sign with any team.

The Panthers traded veteran receiver DJ Moore and others to Chicago for the first pick in April's NFL Draft, so the team was in need of receiving help.

Thielen met with the Panthers last week, according to media reports. There was said to be mutual interest between Thielen and the team in putting together a deal.

ESPN reported Carolina also met with former Detroit receiver DJ Clark, There's still a chance the team could sign him, too, according to the network.

Thielen had 70 receptions for 716 yards and six touchdowns in 2022, his seventh season as a starter. He began his career on the practice squad before earning playing time on special teams.

He's played in 135 NFL games, compiling 534 catches for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns.

Thielen attended MSU Mankato, an NCAA Division II school in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, on a $500 scholarship. He signed with the Vikings after a 2013 rookie camp tryout and has been with the team since, compiling 534 receptions and becoming the face of the franchise and one of the top receivers in the league.

Thielen's best year was 2017 when he had 113 catches, a mark that ranks fourth-best in Vikings history. He made the Pro Bowl after that season, his second straight selection to that squad.

He made nearly $64 million in his time with the Vikings, according to Spotrac.