Tag: Ben Goessling

Could a reunion between Adam Thielen and the Vikings be on the horizon?

If wide receiver Adam Thielen is cut from the Carolina Panthers, could he reunite with the Minnesota Vikings? One beat writer thinks so.

Could a reunion between the Minnesota Vikings and one of their most beloved players in recent memory be in the works? One Vikings beat writer seems to think so. Star Tribune’s Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling has begun connecting the dots and believes the idea of a reunion is a real possibility.

Thielen is still under contract with the Carolina Panthers, but with some recent additions to the wide receiver corps, he could find himself as the odd man out. Returning to Minnesota would make a lot of sense for both sides if Thielen were to be cut before the NFL’s roster cut-down day.

The veteran wide receiver spent the first nine years of his career with the Vikings, notching back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2017 and 2018 on his way to his only two Pro Bowl selections. Thielen served as the team’s #2 option during the first three years of Justin Jefferson’s career, dropping off from his 1,000-yard pace but putting up double-digit touchdowns in both 2020 and 2021.

Thielen isn’t the wide receiver he once was during his early years with the Vikings. But that doesn’t mean he’s not still productive. Thielen had over 1,000 yards last year in a struggling Panthers offense as the team’s primary receiving option, which certainly wouldn’t be the case in Minnesota.

In this scenario, Thielen would come in and likely compete for the Vikings’ third wide receiver position, which could certainly use the competition. Thielen would add a veteran presence to the group and could provide a perfect complement to the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Thielen could also slide into the WR2 spot in the event of Addison’s suspension due to a DUI arrest earlier this month, reuniting with Justin Jefferson as the Vikings 1-2 punch.

Nothing is certain as of yet, but it’s definitely an exciting scenario for Vikings fans to keep an eye on. Thielen would likely be well received if he returned to Minnesota after a release from the Panthers.

Report: Signing bonus money could be holdup on rookie contracts for Vikings

Minnesota Vikings beat reporter Ben Goessling reports signing bonuses and structure may be the holdup for J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner.

There was a palpable excitement around the Minnesota Vikings just a few months ago when they took both J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. That excitement may have been tempered a bit by the fact that both rookies remain unsigned — two of just five first-rounders left unsigned.

The lack of a deal has even led some to suggest that the Vikings should let at least McCarthy sit out the year and “call his bluff” rather than budge on the contract. That’s not likely to happen, but what is the hold-up with McCarthy and Turner? According to one beat reporter, it’s likely signing bonuses and their structure.

In an interview with Minnesota sports radio station KFAN 1003, Ben Goessling reported that both rookies want their signing bonuses want their signing bonuses up front, rather than the staggered installment plan that the Vikings typically do with signing bonuses. According to Goessling:

There’s different things about when you get your signing bonus. Is it going to be paid in installments? Is it paid up front? My understanding is the Vikings have typically done more of the installments stuff with a lot of veteran players. That’s been the case. And certain players have had exceptions to that. I think Justin Jefferson’s [deal did]… Kirk Cousins certainly had exceptions to that.

However, Goessling did offer some optimism on the situation, saying that he believes both rookies will sign “late next week before they are on the field.” So, despite the contract dispute, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Analysis of Vikings paying roster bonus for Danielle Hunter

A deep dive into the Vikings’ decision to pay the $18 million roster bonus for Danielle Hunter

The Minnesota Vikings have been in a state of flux when it comes to the salary cap. They started the offseason $15 million over the cap limit and had some work to do in regards to trimming that number down.

The first move they made was giving quarterback Kirk Cousins a one-year extension, which gave the team $14 million of cap relief. They also maneuvered by restructuring the contracts of safety Harrison Smith and wideout Adam Thielen.

However, the biggest elephant in the room was edge rusher Danielle Hunter.

Due an $18 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, Hunter is set to have a 2022 cap charge of $25.83 million, per Over The Cap. The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reported on Saturday that the Vikings still have some flexibility regarding the roster bonus.

The key verbiage here is that the roster bonus becomes fully guaranteed this weekend but isn’t paid out right away.

Why does this matter? Per another tweet from Goessling later in the thread, he goes into detail about the bonus itself being more flexible.

The Vikings, who currently sit in the neighborhood of $9 million under the cap, still have their draft class to sign, which will cost them upwards of $7 million with numerous holes to fill on both sides of the ball.

They could very well sit on Hunter’s roster bonus and take the cap hit this year to give them more flexibility down the line. The cap hit for next season in this scenario would be $8.62 million, per Over The Cap. At any time, they can still create up to $13.5 million in cap room by converting all $18 million into a signing bonus.

The argument against making such a move is that it limits the flexibility the Vikings have moving forward. As of now, Hunter has two void years on his current contract. The more money you push down the line, the harder it will be to keep and acquire talent.

One element from Goessling’s tweet is how the bonus itself is structured. Hunter still has to report to training camp on time to earn it, and $6 million of it is due within 10 days of his camp report date.

This will be a really big decision for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office. Even if the roster bonus fully guarantees, it doesn’t mean that a trade is off the table, as it can be very easily maneuvered and manipulated to accommodate nearly any scenario.

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