We knew that veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen would be returning for his 12th season of NFL action. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he will be doing so on a revised contract. Joe Person of The Athletic confirms Fowler’s report while adding that the new deal comes with a pay bump for the 34-year-old. 
After a couple of down years before his move to Carolina, Thielen was a bit of an under-the-radar addition to the Panthers’ wide receiving corps in 2023. Despite consistent inconsistency in the quarterbacks room, Thielen had a resurgent season, reeling in 103 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. This past year, Thielen’s impressive output for the Panthers continued as he improved on those numbers through 10 games (615 receiving yards for five touchdowns) despite a seven-game absence in the middle of the year.
Usually, when an aging skills player in their 30s has their contract revised, it’s to reduce their cap impact with a pay cut, usually rewarding them with a signing bonus or some guarantees. In this situation, the Panthers are actually rewarding Thielen for his impressive contributions in the past two seasons by giving him a higher salary.
Thielen was set to make $6.75MM in 2025, including a $1.5MM roster bonus set to take effect this weekend. Per Person, this new deal will actually add to his cap number. There are no plans to extend his time under contract, however, as Person claims that the deal should still void after this season.
It’s an unusual development for a player set to enter the 2025 season at 35 years old, but one well worth it for a player who has been a consistent rock during a turbulent two years of quarterback play. Thielen will continue to serve as a leader and mentor to last year’s rookie wide receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.
He really wants that super bowl ring.
I dont know about a Super Bowl Ring but he is the best receiver they have so he has a LOT of value to them presently.
This dude is probably the most underrated WR in the league.
Thielen is my favorite active player now that Larry Fitzgerald has retired. Both these guys never lost their enthusiasm and passion for the game. A lot of veterans just stick around for the paycheck so it’s refreshing to see an old timer like Larry or Adam who give it their all… even though they know their team has little chance at winning them a ring.
Nobody else wants him so not like he has many options.
Adam and kupp has to be a rebound together. You wanna make a small splash in the cap and a big splash. Have these aging superstars on your offense. Small ball shake and bake. I’ll help canales. This is best case scenario.
I wouldn’t give up on qb. Most likely this is his rookie year. So he might make a splash too. You’ll need rookie and veteran rb depth. But not too lame. Trade back for 2 later rounds and gamble on a Pacheco
Adam and Kupp is must get. Although Kupp will have to be 1.5 milled to play for a historically mediocre team.
Trade bait if you flop again. No worries. Free money. Draft compensation easy money. You can build a team on both ends. Faster
Smart of him, because nobody else will pay him.