There Is a Mini-Documentary about the Vikings 2022 NFL Draft
On April 28th, the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft, new Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah conducted a controversial trade to kickstart his reign as the team’s boss.
And thanks to the Vikings media team, fans can learn all that went into the trade — and the event as a whole — in a mini-documentary posted to YouTube earlier this month. You can watch the 20-minute feature here.
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The documentary-style video examines the mindest of Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell in the “war room.” It also shares the sentimental moments of the Vikings 2022 draftees receiving “the call” explaining their new career paths.
First, Adofo-Mensah fired off a trade with the Detroit Lions, bolting from the premium 12th overall pick in favor of the 32nd pick and deal sweetener in the 2nd and 3rd Rounds. The move was met with ire from Vikings fans because “selling” teams in the draft are generally in a position to abuse the buyer. Yet, there were no star-studded quarterbacks available at the 12th pick, so the Vikings orchestrated a rather typical trade — not one like the New York Giants and Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft. In that transaction, the Giants dictated terms as the Bears landed quarterback Justin Fields, while New York received multiple 1st-Rounders.
The steam wore off the Lions trade, but soon after, Adofo-Mensah traded his 2nd-Round pick to the Green Bay Packers, another deal met by onlookers with a “What is he doing?” reaction. The Packers used the pick to select wide receiver Christian Watson, who Vikings fans were familiar with because of draft hype and geographic proximity (as Watson attended North Dakota State University).
All told, the Lions and Packers received Jameson Williams (WR, DET), Josh Paschal (EDGE, DET), and Christian Watson (WR, GB) in the trade. The Vikings landed Lewis Cine (S), Andrew Booth (CB), Ed Ingram (OL), Brian Asamoah (LB), Esezi Otomewo (EDGE), and Ty Chandler (RB). The Indianapolis Colts also landed assets through later deals with Adofo-Mensah.
The above-listed documentary is where Vikings can learn all about it. Adofo-Mensah identified “an area” of the draft he considered a sweet spot and accordingly traded to wiggle inside it.
Again, the video can be viewed here.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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