4 Takeaways From Kwesi’s Press Conference
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stepped in front of the media on Wednesday and answered questions about free agency, the quarterback rumors, J.J. McCarthy, and much more.
4 Takeaways From Kwesi’s Press Conference
Here’s what we’ve learned.
1. J.J. McCarthy Not Confirmed But Preferred QB1
It’s the primary topic surrounding the Minnesota Vikings: Is J.J. McCarthy the starting quarterback, or does someone else who’s not even on the team take the job from him? Well, while he didn’t give a definitive answer, Adofo-Mensah wants his second-year player to be The Guy.
He said about McCarthy being QB1, “That’s the outcome we want. And that’s the outcome we’re headed towards.”
He added, “At every checkpoint, whether it been the draft process or practice, until the injury, and really the offseason now, he’s met the bar. I mean, he’s exceeded our expectations at every point.”
While nothing has been ruled out, Vikings fans should prepare to cheer for McCarthy in the upcoming season.
2. The Rumor That Won’t Die
Aaron Rodgers’ name has been floating around in the Twin Cities. All the reporting emphasized that McCarthy is the guy for now, but Rodgers could still be a candidate to take his job later in the offseason if he doesn’t perform well.
Adofo-Mensah noted that head coach Kevin O’Connell has a long-standing relationship with the future Hall of Famer and talked to him.
Again, without fully ruling it out, the executive explained, “We didn’t think it was the right move at this time. It is also his decision whether he signs with another team. That’s ultimately up to the player. For me to sit here and say that, you know, anything’s 100% forever, that’s just not the job.”
“We’re responding to scenarios and different information as it comes. So, you know, obviously, things can change, but right now, we’re really happy with our room.”
Of course, another injury could hit the QB room, or McCarthy could display shockingly poor play in the next five months, and suddenly, a new passer is needed. And that’s Adofo-Mensah’s job, to prepare for such scenarios.
Some media folks want to make it sound like this is a 50/50 item. It’s not. The chance of Rodgers wearing the purple uniform next season is not zero, but it’s not much higher than that.
3. Adofo-Mensah’s Extension
O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah, the two faces of this regime, signed four-year deals in 2022. The coach, however, signed his extension right after the 2024 campaign ended, leaving Adofo-Mensah in a lame-duck situation. He’s not concerned, though.
“Just like what we say with player contracts. It’s a process. These things take time. A contract is a chance for people to come together at a table and find solutions for the things they want to solve. So, that’s what we do. I trust people to do that for me, and I promise you I don’t wake up thinking about that for one second. I wake up thinking about ‘How do we improve this team? How do we beat the other teams in our division? How do we get to the playoffs, and how do we go further?’ That’s one of those things.”
He has done a marvelous job improving the team and built a roster that, on paper, should play football beyond Week 18.
“We’re all aligned the same way — myself, the Wilfs, the Vikings, my family. Everybody is aligned. If I go out and do my very best and focus all of my being toward that, everything’s going to work out. That’s how I believe in my life, and that’s how I’ll continue to believe.”
Adofo-Mensah sounded like a man confident that a new deal would get done within the next months. It will remain a situation to watch until it is resolved, with less than a year left on his contract.
4. The Comp Picks Matter
The only reason the Vikings have a pick in the third round of the upcoming draft is that they made sure to get compensation for Kirk Cousins’ departure. They want to have that advantage in 2026, too.
“We’re trying to improve the team but are mindful of our compensatory pick situation and different things like that. We’re really just trying to be mindful of that and the right way to, you know, set us up to succeed, but also be mindful of all the different factors we have.”
So far, the club is expected to land an extra pick in rounds three and five in next year’s offseason to offset Sam Darnold and Cam Robinson playing elsewhere for significant money.
Adding another player who counts toward the formula would erase one of those picks. Ryan Tannehill, for example, doesn’t count because he took a year off. Released players also don’t matter.
The deadline is right after the draft. Then, the Vikings could sign any free agent without the danger of losing a compensatory pick.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt