Skol, Vikings fans. A big offseason coming up for this organization, and I am happy to hear Mark Wilf reaffirm this team’s commitment to championship football.
While I’m never happy to see someone lose their position, I have to believe that this is the right move for the organization. Kwesi’s legacy will be helping bring this organization out of a bad salary cap situation while keeping the team competitive. I’ve heard a lot of negative sentiment toward his results, but Kwesi certainly didn’t miss on every draft pick and had an (I would say) solid track record in free agency. Ultimately, however, there were enough misses in the draft, and the big swing for a rookie QB, that hasn’t panned out, and that usually results in this kind of outcome.
Hopefully our decision makers have learned from this. We’ve given up too much draft capital in trades for players that weren’t who they thought and have missed on exceptional players that could have changed the trajectory of the team. The teams that have gotten these choices right are the teams competing deep in the postseason.
Hopeful to see what the changes bring.
One of the first tasks for Adofo-Mensah was participating in the coaching search that resulted in the hire of Kevin O’Connell.
The two worked together believing the 2021 team was closer to success than achieved and made some moves in free agency and in approach.
The 2022 squad went 13-4 by executing in close moments that were fleeting for the 2021 squad. Despite winning the NFC North, the playoff run didn’t happen.
The 2023 team started slowly out of the gate (and with way too many turnovers) but was starting to peak when Kirk Cousins suffered his torn Achilles. It wound up being the first time Minnesota has ever started four quarterbacks in a season.
The 2024 group made more savvy moves in free agency, including the signing of Sam Darnold on a one-year deal, a move that was panned by some and praised by only a few when it was made. Darnold and the offense were able to attack, and the defense was dominant.
In 2025, the Vikings made offers to Darnold and Daniel Jones, but both opted for different teams in free agency. Darnold found the correct landing spot for him and has added to a strong team with few weaknesses, which is why the Seahawks are in Super Bowl LX.
The moves in free agency this past offseason didn’t work out as envisioned to the degree that previous moves had.
Unfortunately, of the 10 players selected by the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft, only two remained on the roster in 2025. Ty Chandler and Jalen Nailor are scheduled to become free agents. Aggressiveness in the 2024 draft resulted in Minnesota tying a franchise record for fewest picks (five) last year.
Donovan Jackson showed incredibly positive signs for his career trajectory, despite having revolving doors on each side of his left guard position.
The Vikings need to “hit” on more draft picks beginning this year.
In the NFC Championship, 11 of Seattle’s 22 starters were selected in the first four rounds of the past four drafts. The Vikings first-teams on offense and defense combined for three players who were selected in the first four rounds of the past four drafts (this includes J.J. McCarthy, Jordan Addison and Jackson but not Dallas Turner).
