New England Patriots: Adam Thielen trade unrealistic

Adam Thielen being traded to the New England Patriots simply isn’t happening.

With the 2020 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 3 continuing to inch closer, rumors have begun to take place throughout the league about teams that could make big moves for the home stretch of the season, specifically the New England Patriots.

There’s no questioning that the Patriots need some help at wide receiver to help quarterback Cam Newton and the rest of New England’s offense on that side of the field. That, in return, has sparked the idea of the Patriots trying to pull off a trade for a star wide receiver in the NFC.

Earlier this week, Nick Wright, a television personality on FS1’s show First Things First, brought up the idea of New England going out and trying to do what it can to trade for Minnesota Vikings wideout Adam Thielen.

With that minor rumor now swirling throughout the league, let’s squash those rumors because there is no way the Vikings trade Thielen away in 2020.

There is no question that Minnesota is struggling to start the year, currently sitting at 1-5 overall and looking to be a team looking to sell prior to the trade deadline to focus more on the future and creating salary cap space.

But unless the Vikings are looking to completely clean house and fully shed personnel on the team to start fresh, they won’t trade away one if not the top player on the offensive side of the ball.

When Wright brought up the idea on FS1 this week, he noted that Minnesota needs draft picks and he is wondering if Thielen would end up being available. Yes, the Vikings need draft picks, but would it be worth completely cleaning out your wideout room from just a year ago for the uncertainty of draft picks?

Minnesota shipped out then No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the offseason after moving him via trade to the Buffalo Bills for a pick that ended up being stud rookie wideout Justin Jefferson in the 2020 NFL Draft. That move resulted in Thielen trying to lead the receiving unit while also serving as a veteran voice in that room as the new top wideout on the outside of the field.

Thielen and Jefferson have led the receivers through six games in 2020, with Thielen hauling in a team-best 32 receptions and seven touchdowns, adding 415 yards through the air as well. Jefferson has stepped up nicely alongside Thielen, filling into the hole left behind by Diggs.

If the Vikings trade away Thielen, who would they get in return to fill another void left by Thielen? There aren’t many options via trade or on the free agency market worth taking a look at. Also, outside of Jefferson, who else would step into a starting role in Minnesota at wideout? The next wide receiver who has produced behind Thielen and Jefferson this year is Bisi Johnson with five catches for 93 yards.

When looking at what New England could offer in any potential trade for Thielen, there isn’t much that would excite Minnesota outside of giving a decent amount of draft picks for the veteran wideout. But the Vikings would likely look for a player to come in and produce if possible.

A trade of Thielen to New England won’t happen and it would be a complete shock if Bill Belichick and company pulled something like that off. It might be more likely that the Patriots look down the path of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. or another player to help the receiving group and offense in New England.