As Cleveland Crumbles, Kwesi Needs to be Calling
Prior to working for the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked for the Cleveland Browns. In theory, the team’s GM should have a strong working relationship with the top executives over in Cleveland.
One wonders, then, about the possibility of calling the Browns’ front office with the effort of prying away some talent. After all, we’re talking about a team coming off a 3-14 season and with the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Even worse, Cleveland has negative $31 million in cap space and Myles Garrett — the Justin Jefferson of edge rushers — has publicly asked for a trade to get away. Worth it to work the phones, right?
Kwesi, Cleveland, and The Possibility of a Trade
In March, the NFL trade market will get going.
Last year, there were sixteen trades around the league during that month alone. Minnesota didn’t join the fun, but that’s not because the GM is shy about pulling off a swap (he has completed twenty-five trades in his career). Notably, there were some excellent players moved, such as edge rusher Brian Burns, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, running back Joe Mixon, and corner Carlton Davis (among others).
Keep in mind, as well, that Adofo-Mensah has previously done business with his former employer. Back in May of 2023, Adofo-Mensah sent edge rusher Za’Darius Smith over to Cleveland.
One wonders, then, about Kwesi being able to snag a player (or two) from Cleveland’s sinking ship.
Recently, there has been some talk about making a move to acquire corner Greg Newsome II on PurplePTSD. He’s a young, tall corner who is playing for a team that is an absolute mess, needing to shed salary to become cap compliant. Even better, Adofo-Mensah has connections aplenty with that team and was part of the front office that sunk a 1st into Newsome.
What about calling to check in on running back Jerome Ford? He’s coming off a season when he finished with 104 carries for 565 yards (5.4 YPC average) and 3 touchdowns. He’s only 25 and finished as PFF’s 32nd-best running back last season with a 71.2 grade.
Oh, and at least ask about Mr. Garrett. With Aaron Donald in retirement, Garrett is perhaps the NFL’s best defender. Worth it to at least venture into the topic a bit to see what the asking price is. Players of his abilities are supremely difficult to acquire, so the GM would be wise to ask.
Minnesota’s roster is good enough to push for the playoffs. How far they get once there is what has been the issue lately. Adofo-Mensah is going to look to improve his team primarily through free agency and the draft, but working the phones to see about picking up a player via trade shouldn’t be discounted.
The NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday, March 12th.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
At Some Point Soon, The Vikings May Start Getting a Bit Nervous
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, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.