The Kwesi Adofo-Mensah 5th-Year Option Tracker
Truth be told, the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah 5th-year option tracker may be the easiest of the bunch within The Vikings Archive.
For the most part, Minnesota makes a 1st-Round selection on a yearly basis. Those incoming players then have a 5th-year option attached to their deals, setting them up as being a bit unique in comparison to other drafted players. Kwesi Adofo Mensah, the GM who is heading into Year 3 on the job, is the one primarily responsible for deciding whether to pick up the option.
Lately, the decisions he has been making have been for players he didn’t even draft. After three seasons, a team needs to decide whether to pickup the option. Well, Adofo-Mensah has been making those decisions for players scooped up by his predecessor, Rick Spielman.
Basically, the 5th-year option rewards a player with a single season of major money. The money is totally guaranteed and pays the player as being among the very top at his position. The downside is that the compensation exists for just a single season. In some ways, then, it’s a bit similar to a franchise tag (but, note, they’re not the same).
Most recently, the saga involved Justin Jefferson and his option. The Vikings, of course, picked it up since they want nothing to do with Jefferson playing elsewhere. The player, understandably, wanted more long-term security. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth online, Jefferson and Adofo-Mensah arrived at a middle ground that works all around.
The Vikings’ WR1 is sticking around. Standing behind the 5th-year option is a four-year extension, meaning the Vikings have Mr. Jefferson for five more seasons.
Below, there’s a chart laying out the decisions made by Minnesota’s GM since taking over in January of 2022. The more things go, the more we’ll get a sense of how he does with drafting, developing, and retaining the team’s 1st-Round talent. The options are either Yes, No, or To Be Determined (TBD). At times, there’s a brief word stating whether a decision is likely or unlikely.
Ideally, the chart is a handy reference that allows for easy access to the information. If there’s an issue, let me know on social media.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and The 5th-Year Options
| Player & Position | Draft Year & Slot | 5th-Year Option? | Extended? |
| Garrett Bradbury, Center | 2019 — No. 18 | No | Yes |
| Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver | 2020 — No. 22 | Yes | Yes |
| Christian Darrisaw, Left Tackle | 2021 — No. 23 | Yes | TBD |
| Lewis Cine, Safety | 2022 — No. 32 | TBD/Unlikely | TBD |
| Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver | 2023 — No. 23 | TBD/Likely | TBD |
| J.J. McCarthy, Quarterback | 2024 — No. 10 | TBD | TBD |
| Dallas Turner, Edge Rusher | 2024 — No. 17 | TBD | TBD |
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.