Big big news yesterday. No more Kwesi. I wish him well in his future endeavors. There is a ton of debate (as there should be) about the reasons why he was let go and the plan going forward. Mark Wilf said it was not simply one thing (cough … Sam Darnold … cough) but an […]
Big big news yesterday. No more Kwesi. I wish him well in his future endeavors. There is a ton of debate (as there should be) about the reasons why he was let go and the plan going forward. Mark Wilf said it was not simply one thing (cough … Sam Darnold … cough) but an accumulation of everything over the years and that they did not feel the structure was appropriate going forward. No matter the “timing”, it is better to NOT let someone you do not fully have confidence in, handle your upcoming free agency and draft.
It is interesting and Kwesi is the fall guy now. The majority opinion is his drafts have been pretty bad. Very hard to argue against that too.
Over the last 3 drafts (2023-25), the Vikings didn’t draft a single player between picks 25 and 100 (for multiple reasons).
Mark Wilf also stated that the rest of the infrastructure (staff) is going to stay in place through the draft.
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Pay site
Potential Brian Flores replacements, Jordan Addison’s future and more: Vikings mailbag
Do you have any insight into changes at the college scouting level over the past few years? — Tim F.
There haven’t been many.
Former director of college scouting Jamaal Stephenson remains with the team as a senior personnel executive. Mike Sholiton and Pat Roberts, two longtime scouts who have also been with the Vikings for more than a decade, still head the team’s college scouting staff. Below them, the Vikings have shuffled some of their college-area scouts in the last few years.
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So now we know that Kwesi is out and everyone else remains. Kwesi is taking all the blame for the drafts even though he is not doing the scouting and probably relied on the “staff” to decide who to draft. That sounds about right no?
What should that tell us? I think it says we are in more trouble than a little bit because the bozos that were giving Kwesi the players to draft are still there and now they will run this offseason without anyone taking the blame if they mess it up again.
Since Kweis is generally considered not a football guy, why do people think the draft and free agency will get better?
The same people that have not been able to draft interior offensive linemen for over a decade are still there. Yeah that got Bradbury, Ingram, Cleveland, and Brandel. But the only one left is Brandel. The team soured on the other three.
Here are the drafts since Kwesi took over …
2022
Round : Pick # : Overall : Name : Position : College
1 : 32 : 32 : Lewis Cine : Safety : Georgia
2 : 10 : 42 : Andrew Booth Jr. : Cornerback : Clemson
2 : 27 : 59 : Ed Ingram : Guard : LSU
3 : 2 : 66 : Brian Asamoah : Linebacker : Oklahoma
4 : 13 : 118 : Akayleb Evans : Cornerback : Missouri
5 : 22 : 165 : Esezi Otomewo : Defensive end : Minnesota
5 : 26 : 169 : Ty Chandler : Running back : North Carolina
6 : 5 : 184 : Vederian Lowe : Offensive tackle : Illinois
6 : 12 : 191 : Jalen Nailor : Wide receiver : Michigan State
7 : 6 : 227 : Nick Muse : Tight end : South Carolina
2023
Round : Pick # : Overall : Name : Position : College
1 : 23 : 23 : Jordan Addison : Wide receiver : USC
3 : 39 : 102 : Mekhi Blackmon : Cornerback : USC
4 : 32 : 134 : Jay Ward : Safety : LSU
5 : 6 : 141 : Jaquelin Roy : Defensive tackle : LSU
5 : 29 : 164 : Jaren Hall : Quarterback : BYU
7 : 5 : 222 : DeWayne McBride : Running back : UAB
2024
Round : Pick # : Overall : Name : Position : College
1 : 10 : 10 : J. J. McCarthy : Quarterback : Michigan
1 : 17 : 17 : Dallas Turner : Defensive end : Alabama
4 : 8 : 108 : Khyree Jackson : Cornerback : Oregon
6 : 1 : 177 : Walter Rouse : Offensive tackle : Oklahoma
6 : 27 : 203 : Will Reichard : Kicker : Alabama
7 : 10 : 230 : Michael Jurgens : Center : Wake Forest
7 : 12 : 232 : Levi Drake Rodriguez : Defensive tackle : Texas A&M–Commerce
2025
Round : Pick # : Overall : Name : Position : College
1 : 24 : 24 : Donovan Jackson : Guard : Ohio State
3 : 38 : 102 : Tai Felton : Wide receiver : Maryland
5 : 1 : 139 : Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins : Defensive tackle : Georgia
6 : 25 : 201 : Kobe King : Linebacker : Penn State
6 : 26 : 202 : Gavin Bartholomew : Tight end : Pittsburgh
Some folks want to lead us to believe that Kwesi made all these picks on his own. He did trade away picks though. That makes it tougher on the scouts. IDK. I am not too confident in the scouts to be honest. They are really going to have to step uo if they want to keep their jobs.
Senior Bowl Updates
2026 Senior Bowl Official Measurements
2026 Senior Bowl rosters: PFF grades, WAA, measurements and athletic percentiles
2026 Senior Bowl Day 2 standouts: NFL draft sleepers emerge at QB, WR
Senior Bowl 2026 Day 2 winners, losers: Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields shines
2026 Senior Bowl practise notes (day one)
Senior Bowl practices for 2026 NFL draft: Best QBs, prospects
2026 Senior Bowl: Daniel Jeremiah’s top 10 standouts from week of practice
5 Prospects shooting up the Saints draft board after Day 3 of the 2026 Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl Report (1/29): Practices wrap up
Senior Bowl: 9 Observations from 3 Days of Exciting Practices
Senior Bowl 2026 practice standouts: Top performers at every position in NFL Draft showcase
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings Owner Mark Wilf Explains Decision to Part with GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah & Interim Approach
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Odd Timing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Firing Points to Behind-The-Scenes Drama
“Adofo-Mensah getting fired this offseason isn’t shocking, considering his track record in the draft and the botching of the Vikings’ quarterback situation last year. What’s bizarre is the timing of the move,” says Will Ragatz, of Bring Me The News and Vikings On SI.
“When the Vikings fired Rick Spielman (and Mike Zimmer) four years ago, it happened the day after the 2021 regular season ended. This one happened 26 days after the season ended. Adofo-Mensah was at the Senior Bowl evaluating draft prospects this week, as if everything was normal. The Falcons, to use another example, just went through an entire search and hired a new GM on Thursday. It’s extremely odd timing from the Vikings that makes you wonder about what might’ve happened behind the scenes to lead to this decision.”
According to Adam Schefter, “there was talk about an underlying ‘tension’ in the Vikings’ building.” Schefter, according to a league source, says it got “ugly” in Minnesota.
Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller thinks the relationship between Adofo-Mensah and the rest of the organization began to fracture in 2023, and it became known in NFL circles to the point that other potential general managers were preparing for the Vikings job to open.
“There were other executives around the league, in 2023 into 2024, who were preparing their applications, who were preparing their resumes, who were getting their agents ready to go to the Minnesota Vikings to present their clients as potential general manager fits,” Coller said on his podcast. “It’s not some scandal or anything; it’s more of just a communication connection between him, the rest of the front office, the belief from the coaching staff, and the rest of the front office.”
Making the dismissal even more shocking is that Adofo-Mensah signed a multiyear contract extension with the Vikings on May 30, 2025. That was less than a year ago.
“There was for sure a communication gap during 2023, during that offseason, as the Vikings were trying to get some things together, to bring in some people during training camp, that led to… I don’t even want to call it a clash. You know what I’m talking about,” Coller told former Vikings offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles.
“I just don’t really want to go down this road because it gets very muddy. But that offseason, and then into when Kirk (Cousins) got hurt and they brought in (Josh) Dobbs, (Joe) Flacco ends up taking a team to the playoffs, it felt like throughout that year that the connection corroded in terms of, are you really the person in charge? Is it really Kevin O’Connell who is in charge, or who wants to be more in charge of what goes on with this roster and has more control? The rumors at that point started to come out that, hey, maybe they might just move on from this because that connection is not what it needs to be.”
Where the Vikings Go at Quarterback after Firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
J.J. McCarthy and Another QB for a Summer Battle
With Adofo-Mensah out, there’s no way to know how high the Vikings are on McCarthy. Some semi-credible rumors claim McCarthy was “Adofo-Mensah’s handpicked guy,” whereas, rather conveniently after the fact, head coach Kevin O’Connell preferred the option that actually worked, like Sam Darnold and Drake Maye.
Therefore, the newly revised offseason could be as simple as signing another free-agent quarterback to compete against McCarthy this summer. A dude like Russell Wilson or Marcus Mariota rolls in and challenges McCarthy for the QB1 spot. He doesn’t even have to have a lofty reputation — if one is now operating under the pretense that O’Connell didn’t really want McCarthy in the first place:
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J.J. McCarthy and a Clipboard-Holding Veteran QB
Then, there’s the “more of McCarthy method.” O’Connell and Brzesinski simply sign a passer who won’t really challenge McCarthy, instead paving the way for McCarthy to start in 2026, almost no matter what. This can also be classified as the “run it back method.”
Next to netting a big fish like Joe Burrow, for example, this might be the least likely option.
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The Kyler Murray Trade
One year ago, maybe two, Murray was considered a Top 12 quarterback because of his immaculate skill set. He essentially has every physical tool — except height. He’s only 5’11.” Still, he can make every throw, run with the best of them, escape defenders, launch the rock 65 yards, and offer historically good accuracy. Murray is the fifth-most accurate passer in NFL history.
He also appears to have played his final down in Arizona. Murray inched closer to recovery from a foot injury in the middle of the season, but the Cardinals abruptly reversed course, inserted Jacoby Brissett, and placed Murray on injured reserve.
Now, he’s probably gettable in a trade for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick. Murray isn’t the totally prototypical pocket passer that O’Connell loves, but who cares? Murray completes passes and has the skill to succeed as the Vikings’ QB1.
He’s probably the wisest option if Minnesota wants to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026.
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Signing Malik Willis from Free Agency
Willis played wonderfully for the Green Bay Packers in 2024 and 2025, and now he’s set to hit free agency. If he doesn’t sign with the Miami Dolphins — the team that hired a Packers executive to be the general manager and the Packers defensive coordinator to be the head coach — Minnesota can likely sign him for $15-$20 million per season.
It is unknown if Willis can parley his small breakout in Green Bay into a consistent starting gig elsewhere — like Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield — but some team will pay to find out. Maybe that will be the Vikings.
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Trading for an “Upside Guy”
Another intriguing possibility, O’Connell and Brzezinski could swing a trade for a high-round quarterback who hasn’t panned out to date but still has youth on his side. Or, for instance, a trade would not be needed if the Vikings signed Zach Wilson from free agency.
J.J. McCarthy’s future as Vikings QB is far from guaranteed after Minnesota fires GM who picked him
With Adofo-Mensah now out the door, it stands to wonder where the organization will go from here at that central position, specifically as it relates to starter J.J. McCarthy. Adofo-Mensah traded up to select McCarthy out of Michigan with the No. 10 overall pick at the 2024 NFL Draft, and then let Sam Darnold depart the following offseason (despite a 14-3 record as the starter during the 2024 regular season) to install him as QB1.
In 2025, McCarthy went 6-4 as the starter and struggled mightily over those 10 starts (missed seven games due to injury). By stark contrast, Darnold maintained his superb play, and Adofo-Mensah’s firing comes in the shadow of Darnold leading the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX.
The clock is ticking for McCarthy to prove himself
In the aftermath of Adofo-Mensah’s firing, Vikings owner Mark Wilf said that he expects to conduct “a thorough search” for a new general manager after the 2026 NFL Draft. In the meantime, executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski will lead the team effectively as an interim GM through the draft.
This is important from McCarthy’s perspective on a couple of different fronts. On the one hand, a new general manager is on the way, one who is not tied to McCarthy in any fashion, which could make it easier for them to cut ties with the young quarterback in some form or fashion. On the other hand, that GM will not arrive until after the draft, which means they will not be there in free agency either.
With Minnesota well over the salary cap at the moment (-$48.9 million) and picking No. 18 overall in what is slated to be a thin quarterback draft class, there are not a lot of clear avenues for an outright replacement at the given moment.
That sets up McCarthy with a make-or-break season in 2026, which could essentially be looked at as an audition for the incoming general manager before he begins putting a bigger stamp on the roster beginning in 2027. If he continues to look like the quarterback we saw for the balance of last season, his days as Minnesota’s QB1 will be done in short order.
It is worth noting, however, that McCarthy did start to come around over his final four games from a production standpoint, leading the Vikings to a 4-0 record over that stretch with a passer rating of 100.4
From a click bait perspective, this news is fantabulous no? The debates will be raging which I love. Who can blame us. We still do not have a Super Bowl win. All Vikings fans have a right to be upset and there is no one better to be upset with is your fellow stubborn ignorant fan.
I claim the title of Head Ignoramus!
I am going to approach this little plan as if the team is going to blow it up, strip it down to the studs, and role with JJ next year. It is either sink or swim but then the team could be in prime position in 2027 to start a true rebuild without a “time horizon”. Note: I still do not know what that means.
Off Season Plan
Cap Space Work
2026 Cap : ($40,943,588)
2027 Cap: $59,713,273
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Trade O’Neill & pick 82 to Raiders for picks 67 & 102
Trade Greenard and a 2027 6th to the Patriots for pick 60
Trade TJ Hockenson to the Broncos for pick 130
Trade Jordan Addison and pick #97 to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie
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Cut Jones
Cut Kelly
Cut Hargrave
Restructure Jefferson (max)
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Extend Redmond 3 yr 37.5M
Give Zavier Scott & Bo Richter the ERFA tender
Extend Nailor 3 yr 24M
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Sign Kamren Curl 4 yr 40M
Sign Leo Chenal 3 yr 21M
Sign Rachaad White 3 yr 15M
Sign Kingsley Enagbare 3 yr 19.5M
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Updated 2026 Cap: $21,466,931
Updated 2027 Cap: $45,414,523
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Move that the team could/should make in 2027
Cut Allen & Metellus
Updated 2027 Cap : $71,259,523
Yore Mock
Trade Partner: Panthers
Sent: Pick 1.18
Received: Pick 1.19, Pick 5.156
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PICK: 19 RND: 1 Makai Lemon WR USC 5’11” 195
PICK: 49 RND: 2 Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech 6’3″ 320
PICK: 63 RND: 2 Max Iheanachor OT Arizona State 6’5 /12″ 325
PICK: 67 RND: 3 Gabe Jacas EDGE Illinois 6’3 1/8″ 260
PICK: 102 RND: 4 Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio State 6’2″ 192
PICK: 130 RND: 4 Mike Washington Jr. RB Arkansas 6’0 1/2″ 228
PICK: 156 RND: 5 Bud Clark S TCU 6’1″ 185
PICK: 161 RND: 5 Sam Roush TE Stanford 6’5 5/8″ 259
PICK: 194 RND: 6 Kaleb Elarms-Orr LB TCU 6’1 1/2″ 233
PICK: 234 RND: 7 Sam Hecht OC Kansas State 6’4″ 300
PICK: 240 RND: 7 Luke Basso LS Oregon 6’3 1/8″ 236
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Category: General Sports
