Spooky Vikings Offseason Prediction Became Reality
Way back in April, an article from The Athletic proclaimed via an anonymous executive that a team like the Minnesota Vikings could not build a contender with aging veterans through free agency. Seven months later, that person in the shadows has been proven correct.
An anonymous NFL exec warned the Vikings they couldn’t build a contender around aging free agents. That spooky offseason prediction became reality.
The Vikings have a 4-8 record through 13 weeks, virtually eliminated from postseason contention this season, with very little hope for the future.
One Vikings Offseason Warning Nailed It
Minnesota needed wise drafts, not aging veterans from free agency.
The Warning from The Athletic
In an article published by Mike Sando seven months ago, an unnamed NFL executive cautioned against Vikings-themed enthusiasm because of its free agency strategy.
“It’s like the 2015 Colts all over again, signing older guys who have been hurt, who are on third or fourth contracts. You cannot build a team with old players, especially old players who have been cut because they were hurt,” the anonymous source opined.
In short, that guy nailed it.
The Underwhelming Return
The Vikings spent megabucks last March on contracts and extensions for these players whose returns have not matched the investment:
- Jonathan Allen (DT)
- Will Fries (RG)
- Javon Hargrave (DT)
- Aaron Jones (RB)
- Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
Specifically, the warning from The Athletic applies to Allen and Hargrave, with a side dish of Fries, who earned his huge deal (five years and $88 million) based on a five-game sample in Indianapolis. For the first time in his career — last season — he played five fantastic games before breaking his leg. Fries has not returned to that five-game upside.
Meanwhile, Allen and Hargrave have not matched the value of their contracts. Jones was not worth $10 million per season; that’s hard to justify for any running back over age 30.
And Murphy Jr. has sharply declined this year for no good reason.
Poor Drafts Since 2022
What’s more, this free-agent haul was needed because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has roughly a 17% hit rate in the draft since 2022. His first class utterly stunk and is the subject of groans to this day. His 2023 draft netted Jordan Addison, and that’s about it.
In 2024, Adofo-Mensah appears to have hit on Dallas Turner and Will Reichard. The 2025 class is still awaiting a verdict.
Adofo-Mensah needed Allens, Frieses, Hargraves, Joneses, and Murphies due to the fact that his first two drafts didn’t pan out, outside of Addison.
Time to Pay the Piper
Sadly, it’s time for the Vikings to pay up. That is — they opened their Super Bowl window this year after a competitive rebuild process. The team has a 4-8 record for its troubles.
A competitive rebuild is not possible if the draft picks largely don’t pan out — to the tune of an 83% miss rate. When the drafts didn’t work out well, Adofo-Mensah consulted old veterans with injury histories to compensate.
And here we are at 4-8.
Minnesota will not fix this malady until it refreshes the pipeline with competent draft choices. It’s why Adofo-Mensah could be on the hot seat.
Kyle Joudry on Adofo-Mensah
Our Kyle Joudry opined on Adofo-Mensah’s job security this week, “No doubt, Mr. Adofo-Mensah has had a 2025 to forget. Signing DTs Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave hasn’t worked out. Pricey RG1 Will Fries hasn’t been elite. Trading away Harrison Phillips and trading for Adam Thielen has been regrettable.”
“None of Aaron Jones, Byron Murphy, or Andrew Van Ginkel have performed as well as in 2024. Most concerning is the effort of J.J. McCarthy, someone offering remarkably poor play at quarterback. Failing to add legitimate competition for the QB1 was an awful oversight.”
Minnesota will enter the 2026 offseason about $40 million in the hole due to Adofo-Mensah’s 2025 spending.
Joudry concluded, “Nevertheless, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to stick around. The roster does have talent. The team does have flexibility moving forward (albeit less than a year ago). And, most importantly, Adofo-Mensah can be a good GM. He’ll remain employed as a Viking in 2026 (rightfully so).”
Signing aging veterans as a roster solution is apparently a ginormous red flag, and one of the only notable voices to acknowledge it was an anonymous executive speaking to The Athletic.
Maybe the Vikings can hire that guy.
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