It’s a new era for the Minnesota Vikings.
The front office and coaching staff largely remain the same as the previous two seasons. However, entering Year 3, it finally feels like this regime has begun their development arc rather than trying to retread what they could from their predecessors’ work. There’s a new quarterback of the future, and the new leadership has drafted, signed, and developed the current players.
This offseason is particularly defining for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He’s made some bold decisions about the franchise’s direction and hasn’t shied away from that pressure. He let Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter walk, drafted his QB of the future, and is in the waning stages of what may be the biggest contract negotiation of his career with Justin Jefferson. The imprint left by Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer will no longer define the team. This season is a true taste of what the Kwesi-O’Connell Vikings will look like for the rest of their tenure.
And yet some of the first news nuggets out of Vikings OTA’s included this note from The Athletic’s Alec Lewis in his observations piece:
When the first-team defense took the field, cornerbacks Shaq Griffin and Akayleb Evans manned the outside spots, while Byron Murphy Jr. slid inside to the slot. When the Vikings split up into a more advanced group and development group, Mekhi Blackmon competed with the starters, while safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. operated on the other side of the field.
Try as he might, Adofo-Mensah must feel like he’ll never live down his mistakes in the 2022 draft class. Fans can’t help but bring it up in any analysis of his stewardship. First impressions are hard to shake, and for a fanbase starved for change, their first taste was a bit sour.
Adofo-Mensah began his tenure in Minnesota with two consecutive trade-backs in 2022. He notably passed on fan-favorite prospect Kyle Hamilton while trading within the division via the Detroit Lions for pick 32, where he drafted Lewis Cine. Adofo-Mensah followed that up with the Day 2 trade that resulted in the Green Bay Packers selecting Christian Watson and the Vikings taking Andrew Booth. Players aside, the in-division trades were odd and frustrated many fans at the idea that Minnesota just helped out the competition.
That put a bullseye on Cine and Booth immediately. People always judge them more harshly than they would’ve otherwise due to the circumstances. Still, that caveat aside, it’s been pretty close to an abject failure when you look back on the rest of that class.
Cine broke his leg in London as a rookie, which may have derailed his development. Still, he has shown nothing to make fans think he will make the team in Year 3. Booth is faring slightly better but is still underdeveloped and lagging. Third-round pick Brian Asamoah also faces a challenge to make the final 53 in Year 3. People have floated him as someone the Vikings could trade in a low-wattage move this offseason.
Even the successes from that class have to be qualified. Ed Ingram has been a starting guard, and the front office has demonstrated much faith in him, given their approach to the IOL position. Still, he’s also struggled enough to leave the fanbase anxious about that proposition. Akayleb Evans is starting again at outside corner; he’s had some limited success in his career but was also benched for poor performance when he began to spiral down the stretch last season. Ty Chandler has also shown flashes of playmaking ability. However, he has been unable to carve out a consistent, meaningful role in the backfield that fans hoped for.
Two replacement-level starters, a rotational running back, and a bunch of backups and busts. Yeah, that’s a bad draft. But will the Vikings forgive these mortal sins?
Adofo-Mensah has also made some really good moves. The T.J. Hockenson trade has worked well for Minnesota, even if everyone is holding their breath about his return from injury. The Vikings nailed the Jordan Addison pick, and he’s become one of the best WR2s in the league last year. Ivan Pace Jr. was an absolute steal as a UDFA.
What needs to happen for the fanbase to let go of their 2022 frustrations? If J.J. McCarthy turns into a franchise quarterback, will that be enough? If Dallas Turner wins Defensive Rookie of the Year, will the fans give Kwesi a mulligan? Or will it take Cine and/or Booth breaking through in Year 3 for Adofo-Mensah to find redemption?
This season will be definitive for those looking to draw conclusions about whether Adofo-Mensah and this Vikings regime have what it takes to lead this franchise. Fans need to be patient, especially with rookie signal-caller McCarthy. Still, people can glean much from a team in transition like this.
Will this Vikings team show signs that they’re growing? How are key free-agent signings like Byron Murphy, Jonathan Greenard, and Aaron Jones panning out? Does the Justin Jefferson contract saga come to a clean, happy resolution?
You can’t change the past. You’re only responsible for doing the next right thing, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must remember that. However, if by season’s end, this fanbase can look at the key pieces on the roster and confidently say the future’s looking bright, then it’s probably time we let him slide for his immediate stumbles.
