Adam Thielen NFL Odds: Where Will Former Pro Bowl Receiver Sign?

It is considered such a poor group of free-agent wide receivers around the NFL that Odell Beckham Jr. is being pursued by many teams, even though he missed all of the 2022 season following a torn ACL – the second torn ACL suffered in his career.

With all due respect to Beckham, now the most accomplished wideout available is two-time Pro Bowler Adam Thielen, who has been released by the Minnesota Vikings. Born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and having played collegiately at Minnesota State Mankato, Thielen signed with the Vikings in 2013 after serving as a tryout player at rookie minicamp. His 534 career catches are the third-most in franchise history, behind only Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

Thielen comes off a solid 2022 season in which he caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six scores, but he will be 33 at the start of the 2023 campaign and carried a way-too-high cap number of $19.97 million. Not too long ago, Thielen was the No. 1 wideout in Minnesota, but by the end of 2022 was probably third behind superstar Justin Jefferson and the rising KJ Osborn.

Thielen has said he hopes to retire as a Viking. But he added: “I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level.” Thus, he’ll keep playing. Here are the NFL betting options at the top-rated online books for his 2023 team.

Cleveland is the +250 favorite to be Thielen’s next team and that’s largely because the Browns’ head coach is Kevin Stefanski, a long-time former offensive assistant in Minnesota who obviously knows Thielen well.

Thielen had his best season in 2018 with 113 catches for 1,373 yards and nine scores, when Stefanski was the offensive coordinator. Amari Cooper (78 catches, 1,160 yards, nine TDs) is clearly the Browns’ No. 1 guy, but Thielen could serve as a solid No. 2 or co-No. 2 with Donovan Peoples-Jones (61 catches, 839  yards, three TDs).

If Thielen wants a Super Bowl ring, there’s no better place to go than Kansas City (+300) to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs’ top wideout last year, JuJu Smith-Schuster, is a free agent.

All four teams in the AFC East could chase Thielen in Buffalo (+350), Miami (+400), the New York Jets (+500) and New England (+900). We’re not sure he fits with the Dolphins. The Jets could soon be a very popular team for free agents if/when they finish a trade for Aaron Rodgers. The Patriots’ top receiver, Jakobi Meyers, is a free agent. The Bills might need an upgraded No. 2 next to another former Viking, Stefon Diggs. He and Thielen used to have great chemistry.

As a Minnesota native, would Thielen dare sign with the NFC North rival Detroit Lions (+1000 at sports betting sites)? They are a team on the rise, play in a dome like the Vikings do and of course, face Minnesota twice each season.