The 3 Major Draft Tells from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has overseen three NFL drafts so far. His first was rather wretched, but the subsequent two improved thereafter.
The 3 Major Draft Tells from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
He’ll get another swing at rookies in 12 days when his team embarks on the 2025 NFL Draft, and his goal will be to fortify an already sweet roster with young talent.
And with the draft just around the corner, these are some Adofo-Mensah draft clues, tendencies he enjoys when choosing rookie prospects.
They’re listed in no particular order.
1. Age 21 Rookies from Round 1 & 2
Examples: Jordan Addison, J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner, Andrew Booth
In Adofo-Mensah’s last two drafts, the 1st-Rounders extracted by Minnesota were 21 at the time of the event. Before that, Adofo-Mensah selected Lewis Cine, who was 22, and Andrew Booth from Round 2 in 2022, who was 21.
The young executive might’ve learned this trait in Cleveland, his former employer, before taking the big job in Minnesota. Browns general manager Andrew Berry often drafts young rookies in Round 1, almost using age 21 as a foremost criteria.
Thankfully for Adofo-Mensah’s sake, the “COVID years” regarding the draft are winding down, and rookies aren’t necessarily “old” as they were in 2021 and 2022.
This time, for Minnesota’s sake, rookies in their draft orbit like Nick Emmanwori (S), Kenneth Grant (DT), Derrick Harmon (DT), Benjamin Morrison (CB), and Walter Nolen (DT) are 21.
2. Big Schools in Early Rounds
Examples: Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Jordan Addison, J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner
Adofo-Mensah has drafted players from these schools in Rounds 1, 2, and 3 since he took over in 2022:
- Georgia
- Clemson
- LSU
- Oklahoma
- USC
- USC
- Michigan
- Alabama
There’s no other way to put it — the Vikings boss prefers rookies from large, reputable programs. Of course, this does not mandate the selection this year of a player like Michigan’s Kenneth Grant or Alabama’s Tyler Booker.
But Adofo-Mensah has never deviated from the trait, and he’s had eight chances to do so. None yet.
Small-school prospects like Grey Zabel (North Dakota State) or Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina) would become the first of their kind for Vikings purposes if Adofo-Mensah sent one of their names to the podium on April 24th.
3. Ample Experience in Later Rounds
Examples: Mekhi Blackmon, Walter Rouse, Jay Ward
After Round 2, Adofo-Mensah totally sheds the age-21 criteria, as mentioned above.
He has no qualms with adding “old” rookies from mid and later rounds. For example, Mekhi Blackmon, a 2023 3rd-Rounder had played five collegiate seasons before turning purple in April 2023. In fact, Blackmon is already 26 years old — hard to believe for a man who still feels new to the Vikings.
Khyree Jackson, the rookie who passed away in a tragic car accident last summer, was about a month away from his 25th birthday prior to his death.
Therefore, when Minnesota’s draft turns to Round 3 and after, Adofo-Mensah’s draft habits insinuate he no longer cares about the youngest prospects. He seeks experience and even drafts the “old” players on the board.
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