Adam Thielen roster cut could lead to doomsday scenario

The Minnesota Vikings could release veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen. Unfortunately, that opens the door for a nightmare scenario.

If Adam Thielen does stay in Minnesota, he’s at risk of falling down the depth chart behind Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborne. Justin Jefferson is the clear No. 1, but Thielen makes too much money for the Vikings to add around their stars.

It’s an easy decision to let Thielen go if he doesn’t restructure his contract when Minnesota asks. He’s been a Viking for nearly a decade, making two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team.

However, the risk of letting Thielen go is that his next team could very well reside in the NFC North. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “there’s a real possibility that the Vikings and Adam Thielen will part ways in the coming days, allowing the two-time Pro-Bowl WR to become a free agent, per sources. The two sides will talk in coming days, but his time in Minnesota could be coming to an end.”

Could Adam Thielen leave Vikings for a division rival?

It’s a relatively weak wide receiver market, and plenty of teams need help at the position. That makes a player like Thielen — who has experience and wouldn’t come at a premium cost — rather valuable, especially later in the offseason.

Teams like the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, which both lack veteran wide receivers and depth at the position, would be a great fit for Thielen if he doesn’t mind wearing their colors after so many years in Vikings purple.

Even a team like the Dallas Cowboys, a fellow NFC contender which needs depth at the wide receiver position beyond just CeeDee Lamb, make sense as a fit for Thielen.

As overpriced as he is, perhaps Minnesota should consider meeting Thielen halfway, rather than outright cutting him loose.