Putting the King in Viking: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Strategy Earns Top Spot in NFL
Under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings may be understood as the kings of picking up undrafted talent.
The success stories — most prominently, within the excellence from linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. — coincide with an unusual degree of aggression. The draft concludes and the GM goes into spending mode, sending out cash faster than an ATM on steroids. Giving a better sense of how Adofo-Mensah’s Vikings strategy has worked out is the broader analysis that arrived from Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as the King of UDFA Deals
What’s fascinating about the current haul of undrafted talent is that seven made the final roster. As a result, there’s no way they can’t factor into the games.
All of quarterback Max Brosmer, guard Joe Huber, tight end Ben Yurosek, receiver/punt returner Myles Price, edge rusher Chaz Chambliss, linebacker Austin Keys, and defensive lineman Elijah Williams made the team. These rookies stand alongside punter Ryan Wright, linebacker Ivan Pace, and corner Dwight McGlothern who have been brought aboard under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and who are still putting in work on the active roster.
In making an effort to retain plenty of UDFAs, Jason Fitzgerald sees opportunity to create room within a debt-doomed budget.
“The Vikings lead the NFL with nearly 44% of their UDFA signings making the team this year,” Fitzgerald writes, “which is pretty impressive. The Vikings are a team that is cap strapped in the future and this may have played a role in seeing the need to develop younger cheap players to fill in the depth over the next two seasons.”
Another insight that’s worth circling around to is Fitzgerald’s observation about future UDFAs. Basically, the Vikings’ willingness to carve out roster room for undrafted players may lead to a scenario where future guys choose Minnesota even if there’s more money on the table elsewhere.
Fitzgerald’s explanation: “Probably better to sign with a team like the Bucs, Vikings or Commanders, who have a high roster rate, even if the guarantee is slightly less than coming from a team like the Titans. The guarantee doesn’t offer you enough protection to slip to the practice squad.”
Indeed, there’s something to be said for a team that puts actions behind the words.
Plenty of executives and coaches say that it’s all about finding the best players to fill roles and that one’s path toward arriving at the offseason competition means very little. Launch a true meritocracy and let the best player win, NFL decision makers often preach.
In Minnesota, there’s a lot of evidence to support the idea. Just look at Myles Price, someone who received $0 in guaranteed money and still found a way to get onto the team.
Goodness, there’s even some evidence of that idea working from the other direction for the UDFAs. Some of the best-paid signings didn’t get onto the final roster.
A pair of high-priced UDFAs in returner Silas Bolden and offensive tackle Logan Brown were cut. Others such as corner Zemaiah Vaughn, tight end Bryson Nesbit, running back Tre Stewart, receiver Dontae Fleming, and corner Keenan Garber are leaving behind dead money after getting cut (though some are still on the practice squad).
In Week 1, UDFAs Joe Huber and Elijah Williams were inactive. Max Brosmer was the emergency QB3. But then there was Myles Price being ultra dangerous on specials, turning 4 punt returns into 68 yards for an average return sitting at 17 yards. Ben Yurosek had 10 plays on offense and 4 on specials. Chaz Chambliss had 24 special teams snaps while Austin Keys came in 1 snap behind.
Next up for the Vikings is a battle against the Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Adofo-Mensah’s UDFAs will be a factor win, loss, or tie.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
