One Insider Suggests a Vikings Leader Could Be on the “Hot Seat”
Josh Frey
|
The 2024 NFL Draft is just a couple days away, and rumors are flying all over the place.
One such rumor involves a member of Vikings leadership. Dianna Russini of The Athletic recently gave out a few pre-draft nuggets on what she’s been hearing around the league. This article included a section on a Vikings leader who she believes could be on the “hot seat.”
A Vikings Leader on the “Hot Seat?”
That Vikings leader was, of course, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The general manager is entering his third NFL Draft as the leader of Minnesota’s front office, and Russini thinks that the team needs to make a big move up the board if he is going to save his job.
“I have a list of five GM’s who I believe need to nail this draft for their own job security and, more importantly, their team’s future. This Wednesday, my column will go live. But I’ll give you an exclusive here: The GM under the most pressure in this draft is the Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah,” Russini wrote.
Of course, Adofo-Mensah officially is into the second half of his four-year deal with the Vikings that he signed back in January 2022. Minnesota made the playoffs during he and head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season together, but the 2023 season ended in disappointment after a litany of injuries.
As a result, there could be some who look back on the past two seasons and wonder how Adofo-Mensah has left a lasting footprint on this team. He now has a golden opportunity to make his impact in an attempt to save the Vikings’ franchise moving into the future.
“Three years into his regime, his Vikings are 20-14 but without a playoff win. After letting Kirk Cousins walk — despite his head coach’s public desire to keep the QB — Adofo-Mensah is running out of time. This might be the best opportunity he has to add a franchise-altering passer. I expect the Vikings to do everything they can do move up on Thursday to get their guy,” Russini continued.
As of now, the Vikings are widely expected to trade up in this week’s draft to go get a quarterback. As Russini alludes to, there is no more Kirk Cousins to rely on at the position, and if the regular season were to start now, Sam Darnold would be Minnesota’s starter.
The Vikings reportedly have been most interested in selecting Drake Maye out of North Carolina, but unless he takes an unforeseen tumble down the draft board, Minnesota most likely will need to make a move into the top five in order to select him.
The Best Vikings Draft Picks of the Past Five Years
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.