Vikings Working On the Other Contract Extension
The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2024 season with a 14-3 record, which surprisingly didn’t land them the division title, and then lost to the Los Angeles Rams for a second time, resulting in a one-and-done playoff journey.
Vikings Working On the Other Contract Extension
While the finish was disappointing, it was still one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory because a team with low expectations won 14 of the 18 contests.
That, of course, earned the guys in charge contract extensions. Head coach Kevin O’Connell came first. He is the hot item in the Twin Cities and might be the most important member of the organization, and his new deal was announced on Tuesday.
His wingman, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, is supposed to be next. There was some speculation about whether he has earned a new deal or not, but it seems like the Vikings have made a decision and want to keep him around beyond the 2025 season, which is currently the end of his current four-year deal.
Tom Pelissero reported on X right after the O’Connell extension news: “Conversations also are underway 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.”
Ian Rapoport chimed in, “The contract extension talks for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are also underway. and it’s likely that both will be around for years to come.”
Adofo-Mensah was hired in the 2022 offseason, shortly after the Vikings had parted ways with general manager Rick Spielman. Since that day, Adofo-Mensah has overseen a club with a 34-17 record in the regular season, one division title, two trips to the postseason, and a couple of seasons with 13 and 14 wins, respectively. Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury prohibited his team from reaching a third playoff participation in the 2023 season.
The executive operated as an equity trader on Wall Street prior to working in NFL front offices. Stints in San Francisco and Cleveland ultimately guided him to the Twin Cities.
Adofo-Mensah’s first draft has earned him a ton of criticism, and there’s no doubt about it: that class was a disaster.
At first, he traded down instead of picking the top talent on the board, with Kyle Hamilton and Jordan Davis being right there, then he selected Lewis Cine, who didn’t pan out and was cut this past August. Andrew Booth, his second pick, was shipped to Dallas during the 2024 preseason, Ed Ingram was relieved of his starting duties at right guard, and Brian Asamoah is exclusively a special teamer.
Akayleb Evans at least reached expectations for a while, but he didn’t survive the 2024 season, spending the final months of the campaign with the Carolina Panthers. Jalen Nailor and Ty Chandler deserve to be mentioned as solid late-round picks.
But the GM has done some good things, too. His next class, in 2023, delivered receiver Jordan Addison, who has been a borderline star. Third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, hopefully, can play a role on defense after recovering from his lost sophomore year due to a knee injury. Ivan Pace was an undrafted free agent, and he has been outstanding.
In 2024, Adofo-Mensah acquired J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner in the first round. The jury is still out on them, but Adofo-Mensah will undoubtedly be measured by McCarthy’s development. If he turns out to be the real deal, nobody will (or should) care about any previous busts.
Perhaps the most significant move he made was the one he actually didn’t. Letting Kirk Cousins walk instead of trying to enter a bidding war with the Falcons was the right decision in hindsight. His free agency class in 2024 is one of the best in franchise history with Pro Bowlers Sam Darnold, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jonathan Greenard, as well as Pro Bowl snub Blake Cashman.
The Vikings also got out of numerous bad contracts handed to aging stars and are in a fantastic cap space situation.
At the end of the day, the Vikings are satisfied with his work, and fans need to strive for more patience. Draft picks take time to develop, and a GM doesn’t fail because of a single draft class.
The news about an extension can drop at any time.
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