Panthers to bring in WR Adam Thielen for a visit, Andy Dalton signs a two year $10 million deal

The Carolina Panthers are set to host free agent wide receiver Adam Thielen on a visit tomorrow, according to NFL networks Ian Rapoport.

Thielen was released by the Minnesota Vikings after 10 seasons in an effort to avoid the veteran’s $20m salary-cap hit.

Thielen, 32, caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns last season as a complementary possession receiver to star wideout Justin Jefferson. 

He is a two-time Pro Bowler who has seen 90 or more targets in six seasons and has career totals of 534 catches, 6,682 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns.

Thielen has 30 touchdown catches in the past three seasons, which ranks fifth in the NFL.

The Minnesota Vikings announced they were releasing wide receiver Adam Thielen

Thielen spent 10 seasons with the Vikings after debuting in 2014, and has made two Pro Bowls

The Vikings first signed Thielen to a three-year, $1.485m deal as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in May 2013 – where he played on the practice squad. 

Since making his NFL regular season debut in 2014, he has 534 catches for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns in 135 career games (101 starts) for the Vikes. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2017 and 2018.

The Panthers have also apparently found their stop-gap quarterback, agreeing to a two-year, $10 million contract with unrestricted free agent Andy Dalton, according to two people familiar with the situation.

One of those people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal can´t be signed until Wednesday, said the deal includes $8million in guaranteed money.

The Panthers traded up last week to get the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and are almost certain to use it on a quarterback – a position that has seen repeated turnover over the past five seasons in Carolina.

So while Dalton could open the season as the starter if the rookie isn´t quite ready to play, eventually he is expected to be relegated to the role of mentor and backup quarterback.

The 35-year-old Dalton has spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including the first nine with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

He played last season with the New Orleans Saints going 6-8 as a starter with 18 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

Veteran signal caller Andy Dalton has agreed to a two-year deal with the Panthers as well

Dalton went 6-8 as a starter with 18 touchdown passes and nine interceptions last season