Vikings, Adam Thielen have 'real possibility' of parting ways to create cap space: report

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The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly thinking that it’s a "real possibility" that veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen could be released in the coming days.

With the new league year approaching on March 15, teams are crunching the numbers to see how they can afford more in free agency while also making sure they stay under the NFL’s salary cap threshold. 

Thielen said last month that he knew there was a possibility he becomes a cap casualty; he’s just under a $20 million cap hit for the 2023 campaign and the Vikings are roughly $15 million over the cap as of Thursday. That’s the second-highest on the team, and he’s not the team’s leading receiver anymore.

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Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 08, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

That title goes to Justin Jefferson, who is still on his rookie contract and will be a $4.175 million cap hit for this year. Jefferson was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year after a franchise record-setting season with 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns on 128 receptions in Year 3 in Minnesota.

"It’s a little interesting," Thielen said on "The Pat McAfee Show" in February. "We’re working through some stuff because I’ve got a big cap hit. … My contract fully [guarantees] on, I think, March 16."

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Thielen restructured his deal with the Vikings last season to allow some cap flexibility, but that led to this number for 2023.

Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings