CHARLOTTE — Be delusional.
As the eight rookies drafted by the Carolina Panthers, as well as undrafted rookie free agents and a handful of tryout players, arrive this weekend for rookie minicamp, that's Adam Thielen's advice.
Granted, this advice is targeted more towards those who fall into the latter two buckets, the undrafted guys and tryout players. That's how Thielen famously entered the league, working his way up through regional pro days, earning an invite to the Vikings rookie minicamp as a tryout player in 2013.
At the time, the 22-year-old product of Minnesota State didn't know what he didn't know, allowing him a freedom in that camp.
"I look back at it, and I'm more nervous now looking back at it than I was in the moment because, at the moment, I was a little delusional in the fact that I'm probably not going to make it," Thielen recalled last week.
"I was undrafted, unsigned, I went in there as a tryout guy, and I had this delusional mindset of like I'm just going to go out there, I'm going to be on the team. Even though the percentages are less than one percent, they're going to have to cut a guy they just signed to sign me."
The delusion paid off, and by the end of that camp, Thielen had earned a three-year contract that would parlay itself into a Pro Bowl career that is still ongoing with the Panthers. And while his message may resonate more with the UDFAs and tryout guys, the sentiment remains: be completely delusional.
"I think you just live in the moment," echoed Thielen, "and you just be delusional for a weekend and the fact that, like, hey, I'm going to go out there, and I'm better than these guys, and I'm going to beat them out, and I'm going to make the team."
Someone who arguably did that better than anyone last year was Jalen Coker The receiver arrived from Holy Cross in Carolina as a UDFA and just kept performing, day after day, practice after practice.
After initial roster cuts, Coker was added to the practice squad. By Week 4, he'd been promoted to the active roster and finished his rookie season with 32 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns.
His approach to rookie minicamp last season held a bit of delusion as well.
"Just kind of being a sponge," mused Coker on what worked for him that first camp. "Just kind of taking everything in, just trying to listen and do the best I could to make an impact when I was able to.
"It was different though. Like I wasn't like nervous or worried or anything. I just felt like, I deserved to be in this position. I worked so hard to be in this spot and I just never saw myself—I guess kind of a little bit of that delusion. I never saw myself not playing or not making the team, so that was kind of like confidence that I had coming in."
Two rookies arriving soon are Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr., who will also join the receiver room with Thielen and Coker. McMillan was the Panthers' No. 8 overall pick last month, and Horn was nabbed in the sixth round from the PrimeTime Colorado Buffs.
Thielen said he reached out to both to offer his number and let them know he's here for anything they need. For any technical note, piece of advice, or moment of veteran input he may offer shortly, though, the primary message remains the same.
Be delusional, and know this is when the work truly begins.
"Excited for them, obviously happy for them," said Thielen, "but you also want those guys to realize that, just because you were drafted in the first round, it's not over, like here we go, it's just the beginning. So excited for him and excited to get him in."
Check out photos of each draft pick the Carolina Panthers selected in the 2025 NFL Draft from their college years.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, scores a touchdown as New Mexico cornerback Bobby Arnold III (0) pursues during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) catches a touchdown pass in front of UCLA defensive back John Humphrey during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks a tackle attempt behind the line of scrimmage by Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton gestures during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Mississippi defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) waits for the snap against Duke, during the second half of the Gator Bowl NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Mississippi defensive end Princely Umanmielen (1) tackles Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. Kentucky won 20-17. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (1) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (1) is forced out of bounds by Auburn's Keyron Crawford (24) short of the end zone after making a catch in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Ohio State defensive back Lathan Ransom plays against Indiana during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Oregon wide receiver Traeshon Holden (1) catches a pass over Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom (8) during the second half in the quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Florida defensive lineman Cam Jackson (99) grabs the facemask of Georgia running back Daijun Edwards (30) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. No penalty was called. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Samford quarterback Quincy Crittendon (2) is sacked by Florida edge George Gumbs Jr., bottom and defensive lineman Cam Jackson (99) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans (88) collides with Pittsburgh defensive back Marquis Williams (14) as he leaps in the air during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans (88) makes a catch that was called back as Florida State linebacker Blake Nichelson (20) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (5) runs for a touchdown against North Dakota State Bison during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (5) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
