The Vikings’ Most Important Draft Pick Could Absolve the GM of Many Sins
There are signs of improvement, but the GM’s draft picks – taken as a whole – haven’t done particularly well. At least not yet.
The Vikings’ most important draft pick, though, is the one who could absolve Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of any number of draft sins: No. 10 pick J.J. McCarthy. The promising passer coming out of Michigan is being leaned on as the QB1 going into his sophomore season. If he shines early, then Adofo-Mensah (and the Vikings community) will start telling a different story.
The Vikings’ Draft Picks & Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Draft History
To a certain extent, folks were stunned by the whirlwind that had taken place.
Originally sitting at No. 12 and with the hope of Kyle Hamilton falling into Minnesota’s lap, the Vikings instead decided to jump back to No. 32. Doing so foreshadowed what would be a wild few days: there were a whopping six trades as Minnesota plucked ten players out of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Adofo-Mensah did a very poor job in that event.
Look no further than the simple fact that only a trio of players from that initial draft class – linebacker Brian Asamoah (3rd, No. 66), running back Ty Chandler (5th, No. 169), and wide receiver Jalen Nailor (6th, No. 191) – remain on the roster. Even worse, at least two of those players – Asamoah and Chandler – are firmly on the roster bubble.
Oh, and one other negative tidbit: does even a single pick from that ten-person class earn a second contract in Minnesota?
The 2023 draft sparked more optimism, in no small part due to the addition made at the top of the event and the one that was made outside of the event. In 1st-Round selection Jordan Addison and UDFA signing Ivan Pace Jr, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah proved capable of getting strong starters at any level of talent acquisition in and around the NFL draft. Yes, some concerns linger – he whiffed on at least three of his six picks – but he took a step forward.
Finally, the 2024 NFL Draft arrived. Equipped with No. 11 and No. 23, the Vikings appeared poised to venture very high in an effort to land a passer, especially after bidding farewell to Kirk Cousins. Instead, Adofo-Mensah proved to have ice water in his veins, allowing J.J. McCarthy to fall all the way to No. 10 before striking.
Not a bad bit of business, all things considered.
McCarthy is now inspiring no shortage of optimism. At least part of that optimism is tied to what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did most recently, snagging Donovan Jackson at No. 24 in the 2025 NFL Draft. If the new LG1 lives up to the buzz, then Mr. McCarthy will be left with very few excuses.
The Vikings’ starting o-line has the capacity to become great. The collection of skill – Justin Jefferson, Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason – is perhaps the most intimidating in the NFL. Bringing everything together is Coach O’Connell, who is going into his fourth season with the Vikings with a Coach of the Year Award in his cabinet.
J.J. McCarthy, in short, has been given a ton of resources to succeed. He has had a full season in the NFL to focus on just the mental component of things and the support around him couldn’t get any better.
Seeing him live up to – exceed? – the expectations that arrive with being a 1st-Round quarterback will make the Vikings a dangerous team while making Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft record look very, very different.
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