Do the Vikings Have a Problem Silently Brewing Behind the Scenes?
Extending Kevin O’Connell generated a bit of controversy — there was some word of there being “tension” — but the deal got done in short order. The charming head coach is going to continue leading the team for the foreseeable future.
What about Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?
The Vikings like their GM. He comes across as being genuine, finding the tricky balance between his intellectual sophistication while nevertheless being down-to-earth. He is, in short, a strong communicator who appears to have a strong vision for how he wants to lead the Vikings. Why hasn’t an extension been announced for the young executive?
Do the Vikings Have a Problem Extending Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?
At the time, the word was that the attention was turning from the HC to the GM.
Consider, for instance, the update from Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network. “Conversations also are underway,” Pelissero wrote, “on an extension for #Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Minnesota is 34-17 since they took over in 2022 and the plan is to keep the braintrust together.”
The update arrived on January 21st. Since then, crickets.
Keep in mind that extending O’Connell was enthusiastically promoted on social media by the franchise itself. Presumably, there would be similar enthusiasm about Adofo-Mensah agreeing to stick around for a little longer, as well.
Details from the GM’s biography are fairly well known at this stage. He’s Ivy-League educated and had a career as a Wall Street trader. He’s known as a bit of a numbers nerd. He spent time with the front offices for the 49ers and Browns prior to taking over top job in Minnesota.
Minnesota, all things considered, has done well since he has taken over, piling up a 34-17 record but going 0-2 in the playoffs.
Adofo-Mensah has proven to be an excellent negotiator who doesn’t back down from his convictions. There’s a line that he will establish in his mind and he has the gumption to follow through on not crossing it. Sometimes, the best thing a general manager can say is “no.” One can look to the decision to walk away from Kirk Cousins for an example.
Keep in mind, though, that he has put together strong extensions for top talent like T.J. Hockenson, Christian Darrisaw, and Justin Jefferson. So, too, has he done some excellent work in free agency, bringing in winning talent like Jonathan Greenard, Byron Murphy Jr., Harrison Phillips, Blake Cashman, Josh Oliver, Aaron Jones, Sam Darnold, Andrew Van Ginkel, and others.
Where Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has really struggled has been in the draft.
Already, six of the ten players chosen in 2022 — Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, Esezi Otomewo, Vederian Lowe, and Nick Muse (who could be re-signed) — aren’t calling Minnesota home. Ed Ingram seems like a good bet to be cut and so, too, could Brian Asamoah be shown the door.
Even worse, the 2023 draft class has already been cut in half. Jaquelin Roy, Jaren Hall, and DeWayne McBride couldn’t find a way to stick around.
Minnesota, in other words, has been winning in spite of the drafting, not because of the drafting. The trend needs to reverse itself soon or the Vikings won’t be able to sustain their competitiveness. The most obvious examples of players who need to hit are J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner, but seeing others like Jalen Nailor, Jay Ward, Walter Rouse, Will Reichard, and others improve would be a very welcome development in the Twin Cities.
In the end, a deal is still very likely to get done. The GM and HC appear to work well together, sharing a mutual respect alongside a mutual desire to build the team culture in a specific manner. One could certainly envision a scenario where Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell lead the Vikings for quite a while.
Until the extension for the GM arrives, though, there will be some questions.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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.
