Sports
The Onslaught on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Draft Picks May Continue
The great failure of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era mostly flows from the draft. The former GM has had some great picks but they’ve been too skimpy.
So, the Vikings decided it was time for change.
Nolan Teasley is now the man in charge. Despite some initial uncertainty, Teasley is going to be the decision maker who gets the final call on the 53-man roster. He’ll therefore be able to make a clear and immediate impact on the final team in less than two months as he looks to push Minnesota from being pretty good to being great. How many draftees of the former GM survive?
How Many Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Picks Remain by September 1st?
Generally speaking, analytics nerds insist that getting more draft picks is a better outcome. So, the 2022 NFL Draft should have yielded positive results for the Vikings since the franchise chose ten players. Check out the haul:
- Lewis Cine
- Andrew Booth
- Ed Ingram
- Brian Asamoah
- Akayleb Evans
- Esezi Otomewo
- Ty Chandler
- Vederian Lowe
- Jalen Nailor
- Nick Muse
None of those players remain with the Vikings. In a sense, Adofo-Mensah went 0/10, but that’s too bleak of an assessment. The reality is that he did nail one selection: opting for Nailor in the 6th. He’s now playing alongside Kirk Cousins in Sin City. Seeing the former WR3 walk for meaty money means that the Vikings are set to earn a compensatory selection for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Somehow, the drafting didn’t get too much better. He snagged a half dozen talents in the 2023 NFL Draft:
- Jordan Addison
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jay Ward
- Jaquelin Roy
- Jaren Hall
- DeWayne McBride
Of those six, the prize is Addison. He’s among the Vikings’ best players. Staying out of trouble off the field will involve seeing the WR2 eventually break through for 1,000-yard seasons. Otherwise, only Jay Ward remains (he’s got potential).
The most pivotal Vikings draft of recent history rested in 2024. Seeing J.J. McCarthy become the team’s long-term QB1 would dramatically change how Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s time as GM is remembered. The kid has a ton to prove, especially with so much attention on his battle with Kyler Murray.
The entire draft:
- J.J. McCarthy
- Dallas Turner
- Khyree Jackson
- Walter Rouse
- Will Reichard
- Michael Jurgens
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
First, a note on the corner: Mr. Jackson. He passed away not long after being drafted. Adofo-Mensah, and the Vikings more broadly, had nothing but excellent things to say of him.
Turner has yet to come close to justifying his draft slot. Rouse looks like a fringe roster candidate. Reichard is incredible, Jurgens a depth option, and Rodriguez appears ready for another step forward. A ton still hinges on McCarthy.
Finally, the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Donovan Jackson
- Tai Felton
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
- Kobe King
- Gavin Bartholomew
Nobody from this cluster of talent has become elite. Jackson, though, oozes ability. He’s a rugged, tough guy who looks likely to be an excellent player. Ingram-Dawkins, as well, looks like he’s got a shot to do something really impressive.
Do the final tally and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made 27 selections (Jackson’s selection is being excluded). Already, that total is down to just 12 players remaining. How many will be left standing after the next set of cuts?
Guys like Felton, Rouse, and Bartholomew aren’t locks to get onto the team. Maybe somebody gets moved in a trade. What would be a very poor outcome, though, is seeing 10 (or less) homegrown talents left on the Vikings’ roster after the four years of Adofo-Mensah’s drafting. Were that issue to occur, then the Vikings would be getting unusually low value out of the draft pipeline of recent seasons.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is now back with the 49ers.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
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