The Spoils of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s 10 Trades

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Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell

The Minnesota Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 26th, about two weeks after cutting ties with former general manager Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer.

So far, the Vikings bossman has conducted 10 trades, doing business with the following teams:

  • Cleveland Browns
  • Detroit Lions
  • Green Bay Packers
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Las Vegas Raiders (three times)
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pittsburgh Steelers

Most swaps occurred during the 2022 NFL Draft as the Vikings traded more than any team during the event. Adofo-Mensah orchestrated six draft trades in April and four in the summer (in the last week, in fact). Indeed, Minnesota welcomed Nick Mullens (QB), Ross Blacklock (DT), and Jalen Reagor (WR) for draft picks in the last two weeks while offloading offensive lineman Jesse Davis to the Steelers for a conditional 7th-Round pick.

Will Vikings Use Their Remaining Cap Space?
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

All told, Adofo-Mensah has accrued 11 new players (most via draft pick) and two 7th-Rounders for a later date amid his 10 ten trades. These are the spoils received by the Vikings:

  • Brian Asamoah (LB)
  • Ross Blacklock (DT)
  • Andrew Booth (CB)
  • Ty Chandler (RB)
  • Lewis Cine (S)
  • Akayleb Evans (CB)
  • Ed Ingram (OT)
  • Nick Mullens (QB)
  • Nick Muse (TE)
  • Esezi Otomewo (DT)
  • Jalen Reagor (WR)
  • 2023 7th-Rounder
  • 2025 Conditional 7th-Rounder
The Dirty Little Caveat to the Jalen Reagor Trade
Jalen Reagor. © Jerry Habraken via Imagn Content Services, LLC.

In return, the other eight teams received these assets:

  • Brittain Brown (RB, LV)
  • Jesse Davis (OT, PIT)
  • Neil Farrell (DT, LV)
  • Jerome Ford (RB, CLE)
  • Andrew Ogletree (TE, IND)
  • Josh Paschal (EDGE, DET)
  • Alec Pierce (WR, IND)
  • Bernhard Raimann (OT, IND)
  • Christian Watson (WR, GB)
  • Zamir White (RB, LV)
  • Jameson Williams (WR, DET)
  • 2023 4th-Rounder (CLE)
  • 2023 6th-Rounder (HOU)
  • 2023 7th-Rounder (PHI)
  • 2024 Conditional 4th-Rounder (PHI)
  • 2024 Conditional 7th-Rounder (LV)

And “what the other teams got” was mainly highlighted by two WRs, Christian Watson and Jameson Williams, to the Packers and Lions, respectively. Adofo-Mensah’s gumption for trading players and picks won’t be illuminated until years down the road when players develop, but the early returns of Watson and Williams will be examined with scrutiny. Wide receivers and quarterbacks are the folks who put butts in seats, so if Watson or Williams take off quickly, the trades will make the Vikings look goofy — no matter what materializes from their commodities.

Gift-Wrapped WR from Vikings to Lions Won't Play Week 1
Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Finally, the aforementioned Spielman was often called Trader Rick for his tendency to trade more than most. But perhaps Adofo-Mensah should be anointed a nickname. His 10 trades are more than Spielman ever pulled off in a calendar year.

Adofo-Mensah has already doubled Spielman’s five trades in 2021, and we just passed Labor Day on the calendar.


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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