Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Magic Trick
On several occasions, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown that he’s capable of operating an NFL budget.
He has a numbers background as someone who ventured pretty far into academic study before his much-discussed experience on Wall Street. Most recently, Adofo-Mensah has been working within NFL front offices (49ers, Browns) before taking over the top spot with the Vikings. The deal he signed Carson Wentz to demonstrates some savvy.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Working the Cap & Calendar
The GM found a way to have his cake and eat it, too.
In the top spot is J.J. McCarthy, a promising passer operating on that coveted rookie contract. He’ll be carrying a $4,966,999 cap charge into the season. Offering just average play as the QB1 would mean that the cap hit is a steal of a deal. Climbing to above average or even being a good quarterback? Well, that just makes the value even more impressive.
And then there’s what’s taking place behind McCarthy on the depth chart. Therein lies the magic from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Carson Wentz is looking like the QB2 and Max Brosmer has slid in as the QB3. The main backup is accounting for just $1,255,000 within the budget. The backup to the backup is seeing his cap number down at $843,333. Combined? A cool $7,065,332. Not bad.
The real detail to note within the mix is the number for Carson Wentz. Indeed, that’s where one wonders if the Vikings’ GM was playing a bit of chess.
Journey back in time to March, a month where there was no shortage of quarterback speculation and uncertainty surrounding Minnesota. Rather than pay medium money for someone several months ago, Adofo-Mensah yet again proved his patience.
No shortage of backup quarterbacks are carrying significantly larger cap charges in 2025. Backup passers such as Marcus Mariota ($8,080,000), Jacoby Brissett ($5,310,000), Jarrett Stidham ($4,000,000), Jameis Winston ($3,000,000), Joshua Dobbs ($2,925,000), and Case Keenum ($2,250,000) are all making a fair bit more than Wentz. How much of those cap charges are the result of free agency bidding in a time when the market was hotter?
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah brought Carson Wentz to town on August 24, 2025 for what’s being reported as less than $1.3 million. Would the cap charge have been beefier had the deal arrived on March 24, 2025? Obviously, the downside is that Wentz is now scrambling to learn the plays, but he has been around the NFL. He’ll get things figured out before too long.
Plus, the Vikings avoided paying Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, and Sam Darnold. Working one of those into the mix — Mr. Rodgers, for instance, at his $14,150,000 cap charge — would have dramatically changed the financial outlook.
The Vikings’ entire cap commitment for their quarterback room is a hair above $7 million. While plenty of people will (reasonably) point toward the McCarthy rookie deal, the real magic rests in finding strong depth for so cheap. Wentz and Brosmer combine to get just a bit above a $2 million cap charge.
Carson Wentz, 32, stands at 6’5″ and weighs 237 pounds. His career has involved being a No. 2 pick, winning a Super Bowl, and throwing for 153 passing touchdowns.
He’ll put his nine years of NFL experience to work by helping McCarthy to decode what’s taking place on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
