Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s 3 Best Trades to Date

The 4 Draft Prospects Most Commonly Associated with the Vikings
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Go figure. The new general manager with a Wall Street background enjoys the art of the trade.

That’s Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and he took over the Minnesota Vikings front office 15 months ago. Since then, he’s traded 11 times — the second-most in the league during the timeframe. Only the Las Vegas Raiders traded more in 2022.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s 3 Best Trades to Date

More Adofo-Mensah trades are assuredly on the way in the 2023 NFL Draft, but here are the man’s three best trades to date, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best trade).

3. The Lewis Cine Trade

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

What the Vikings Got:
Lewis Cine (S), Andrew Booth (CB), Ed Ingram (G), Brian Asamoah (LB)

What the Other Team Got:

Jameson Williams (WR, DET), Josh Paschal (EDGE, DET), Christian Watson (WR, GB)

This trade is very much a work in progress. But based on reasonable depth chart assumptions heading into 2023, the Vikings landed four starters in Adofo-Mensah’s first trade. Cine and Booth were injured for most of 2022, but they should heal by summer and project to start in 2023.

Asamoah and Ingram are nearly locks to start in September, while Vikings fans “hope for the best” from Cine and Booth. Unless you’re a cynical doomsayer about Cine and Booth, this trade doesn’t look half-bad, especially after folks absolutely bemoaned it on draft night.

2. The Akayleb Evans Trade

3 Best Trades to Date
Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports.

What the Vikings Got:
Akayleb Evans (CB)

What the Other Team Got:

Jerome Ford (RB, CLE), 2023 4th-Rounder (CLE)

The Vikings don’t have many starting CB options on the roster as of early April, but Evans is one. He played quite well in a handful of games during his maiden voyage but was undone by two concussions.

The scrappy-but-friendly defender has an upward trajectory this offseason, and various Vikings fans actually think he’s better than teammate Andrew Booth. Should Evans turn into a full-time starter, his pricetag will feel like a nothingburger in hindsight.

1. The T.J. Hockenson Trade

Only 2 Options
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

What the Vikings Got:
T.J. Hockenson (TE), 2023 4th-Rounder, 2024 4th-Rounder

What the Other Team Got:

2023 2nd-Rounder, 2024 3rd-Rounder

This man debatably saved the Vikings season in 2022. Former Vikings wideout Adam Thielen wasn’t supposed to impact the offense so minimally, so when Hockenson became a favorite target of Kirk Cousins, his presence felt mandatory.

Minnesota moved down three rounds (total) in two drafts to score a Top 5 NFL tight end. When you fire up 2023 Vikings draft recaps, pencil Hockenson in as the team’s 2nd-Rounder because that’s his doppelganger.

The Hockenson deal was overwhelmingly advantageous and will pay even more dividends when he signs a large contract extension in the coming weeks or months.


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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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