Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has restructured his contract, helping to clear salary cap space and strengthening the chance that he remains with the team for next two-plus years.
"I guess you can't get rid of me yet," Thielen said in a video posted by IFA, his representatives. "I'm super excited to be back, in purple, to ultimately bring a championship to this city, which so much deserves it."
Under the reworked deal, which gives him $18 million guaranteed and in total is similar to before, Thielen will receive $14 million-plus in 2022, including a $9 million signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. For 2023, the deal includes a $5 million guarantee for injury. A void year for 2025 also has been added to his current deal, which runs through 2024.
Thielen's previous contract was carrying a cap hit for 2022 of more than $16.8 million.
After giving quarterback Kirk Cousins a one-year contract extension, bringing back Thielen for at least another season made sense. The 31-year-old two-time Pro Bowl pick missed four games with an ankle injury in 2021 and had 726 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Vikings also restructured safety Harrison Smith's contract this week for cap relief.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.