Vikings Have Another Champagne Problem
During the 2024 offseason, reporters asked Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah when Justin Jefferson’s extension would be finalized, and he channeled Taylor Swift by calling it a “champagne problem.”
Vikings Have Another Champagne Problem
He was right — the Vikings later extended Jefferson, and all the trade theories and fearbait about his extension were all for naught.
Now, according to Adofo-Mensah, he has another champagne problem: adding a third tight end.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on TE as a Champagne Problem
Minnesota has two tight ends on its roster just days before the draft. Ordinarily at this point on the calendar, the Vikings would have four at minimum.
That’s why Adofo-Mensah was asked about tight ends — basically, what is he cooking?
Adofo-Mensah replied: “Roster-spot-wise, that’s probably an easy place to look and see that the Vikings would want to add something, but I don’t love the word ‘need.’ I want to be positively focused. It’s want. We want certain types of players on our team. When you start that question with T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, you say the word need, I feel a little bit champagne problemish, in terms of the phrase of the word need.”
“I think those are two dynamic players at their positions, the ability to give us a lot of great skill sets, and we’re excited about adding somebody else in that room, however that comes. The draft is just one of the avenues we have, but from a numbers standpoint, that is a position we will address.”
So, Minnesota doesn’t need another tight end, and talks about the third guy remind him of champagne.
Where’d All the TEs All Go?
Not long ago, Minnesota had oodles of tight ends connected to their roster orbit.
Nick Muse, a 2022 draftee, lived on the practice squad and active roster for three seasons before getting plucked from the PS late last season by the Philadelphia Eagles. Muse won a Super Bowl a few weeks later. Must be nice.
Johnny Mundt, who was attached to the roster for three seasons as well, departed via free agency for the Jacksonville Jaguars last month. He followed new Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, formerly an assistant Vikings quarterback coach, and veteran passer Nick Mullens.
And before that, veterans like Robert Tonyan and N’Keal Harry didn’t stick around for long.
Therefore, in April 2025, it’s just Hockenson and Oliver.
The Vikings TE Possibilities in the Draft
If Minnesota wants a non-Round-1 tight end from this week’s draft, these are the options from Round 2 to 7:
- Mason Taylor (LSU)
- Elijah Arroyo (Miami)
- Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)
- Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)
- Gunnar Helm (Texas)
- Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame)
- Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse)
- Jackson Hawes (Georgia Tech)
- Jake Briningstool (Clemson)
- Thomas Fidone II (Nebraska)
- Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech)
- Benjamin Yurosek (Georgia)
- Luke Lachey (Iowa)
Adofo-Mensah could explore undrafted free agency for a TE, too, which should be a total haven on Saturday night.
It’s worth mentioning that Minnesota could also add a “no-name” tight end from free agency.
Connections to TEs in the Draft
Brevan Bane of PurplePTSD.com, a partner site to VikingsTerritory, recently mocked-drafted Harold Fannin Jr. to Minnesota in Round 3 and explained: “The Vikings have a need for a TE3, which could eventually lead to a need for a TE2 after the expiration of Josh Oliver’s contract. And, well, Harold Fannin Jr. is exciting. He’s about as legitimate of a receiving tight end as any in the last couple of drafts, and he is completely flying under the radar because he is a bit undersized and he played for Bowling Green.”
“He is not a blocker whatsoever, but his receiving upside is unreal. The kid could get a legit run at slot receiver in the Vikings’ offense.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota has met with Oronde Gadsden II and Ben Yurosek via the Top 30 visit process.
The Stunner Option
Of course, because Minnesota has the newfound luxury of drafting the “best player available” this week, the club could stun the world and select Michigan’s Colston Loveland or Penn State’s Tyler Warren if either man tumbled down the draftboard. That’s unlikely, given the state of the consensus big board, but stranger things have happened.
Hockenson’s guaranteed contract money runs out after the 2025 season, and Oliver is not a trustworthy option for a full-time TE1 role.
In theory, especially because it’s a champagne problem, Minnesota could prioritize tight end in Round 1 or explore one in Rounds 2 or 3 if it finds the draft capital via trade.
Champagne problems regarding the Vikings are pretty fantastic, eh?
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