Adam Thielen has played with some of the game’s very best pass catchers. Ever heard of Justin Jefferson? Stefon Diggs perhaps?
Well, the Carolina Panthers currently don’t have either of those players—or any who are even close to them. But what they do have, according to the 10-year veteran, is something incredibly unique.
Thielen spoke with reporters following the first session of mandatory minicamp this afternoon. When asked about his experience playing as part of an elite receiving duo, he had this to offer about his new teammates on Tuesday:
“I think this is a talented group. It’s not just one or two guys. I think it’s a group effort. We’re able to really put a lot of guys in there and not miss a beat. That doesn’t happen in the NFL. That just doesn’t. Usually, you can see a drop-off when you go to the 2’s and you go to the 3’s—usually, you see a little bit of a drop-off. I haven’t felt that here. So I think that’s a really cool thing and that says a lot about this group and this team.”
The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers this spring—and did so knowing that he won’t be playing alongside a Jefferson or a Diggs. Carolina, rather, has a mishmash of wideouts—including former Pro Bowler DJ Chark, third-year veteran Terrace Marshall Jr. and rookie Jonathan Mingo.
But, as Thielen alluded to, maybe there’s levels to being on the same level.
