Vikings GM: J.J. McCarthy Is Our Guy. Vikings Fans: Sounds Like Aaron Rodgers to Me.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Minnesota Vikings’ general manager, spoke for 20 minutes on Wednesday at a pre-draft press conference but was asked no questions about the draft.
Vikings GM: J.J. McCarthy Is Our Guy. Vikings Fans: Sounds Like Aaron Rodgers to Me.
Instead, reporters asked the young executive about Aaron Rodgers for a lot of the session. Adofo-Mensah diplomatically explained that his franchise has explored Rodgers as an option, yet will roll with J.J. McCarthy in 2025 and beyond, the man it drafted last year to become the quarterback of the future.
The problem? Some listeners just disregarded Adofo-Mensah’s words altogether.
What Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Said
Adofo-Mensah outlined his stance on McCarthy and Rodgers rather clearly. He did the due diligence on Rodgers this offseason and decided to stay the course with McCarthy.
“We didn’t think it was the right move at this time,” Adofo-Mensah said about Rodgers possibly becoming a Viking.
“It is also his decision whether he signs with another team. That’s ultimately up to the player. For me to sit here and say that, you know, anything’s 100% forever, that’s just not the job,” Adofo-Mensah explained.
“We’re responding to scenarios and different information as it comes. So, you know, obviously things can change, but right now we’re really happy with our room.”
We’re really happy with our room doesn’t leave much to interpretation.
And it makes all the sense in the world that McCarthy would be in line to lead the Vikings. That’s what 1st-Rounders do. “When we pool the resources we did to draft J.J., and you go through that long process and all those things, I can’t stand up here and say that’s not the outcome we want. That’s the outcome we’re headed towards,” Adofo-Mensah mentioned.
Outcome we’re headed towards regarding McCarthy doesn’t leave much to the imagination in NFL-speak.
About McCarthy specifically: “At every checkpoint, whether it been the draft process or practice, until the injury, and really the offseason now, he’s met the bar. I mean, he’s exceeded our expectations at every point.”
How Some Vikings Fans Reacted
Mind-bogglingly, some left the Vikings press conference believing Rogers was very much in play for Minnesota.
A popular X account, called Vikeologist tweeted: “The Kwesi presser didn’t rule out a damn thing. The Vikings had interest in Rodgers and still may have interest in him. This just means they won’t do anything until after the draft as to not mess with the comp pick formula. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Rodgers in purple by Training Camp.”
Rodgers has absolutely nothing to do with Minnesota’s compensatory draft pick formula. Nothing at all.
He added, “Is Aaron Rodgers Derangement Syndrome real?”
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad tweeted, “Sixteen years ago, Brett Favre became a Viking. Could the same thing happen with Aaron Rodgers. We can no longer dismiss the possibility.”
And those are just two high-profile examples of dozens.
The Reality
Adofo-Mensah often mentions how fans and media members analyze football in a binary manner. That is — J.J. McCarthy … good. Aaron Rodgers … bad. Therefore, McCarthy … in. Rodgers … out.
While that may be the outlook from a pedestrian viewpoint, the NFL is a wacky business where a team must keep all options and relationships at their beck and call. For instance, if McCarthy blew out his knee at organized team activities in May, well, it would be nice to give Rodgers a jingle after the cordial dealings that the parties experienced in February and March.
Had Adofo-Mensah stepped up to the podium this week and fundamentally ruled out Rodgers forever, well, that slams a door shut — that doesn’t need to be slammed eternally.
In fact, Adofo-Mensah handled the press conference masterfully, providing his franchise’s plan to rally behind McCarthy, with a side note of a Rodgers possibility down the road if chaos strikes.
J.J. McCarthy Healthy … as a Side Note
Almost lost in the shuffle, in addition to reporters asking Adofo-Mensah zero questions about the draft, McCarthy is all healed from his August meniscus tear.
One might surmise that McCarthy’s health should be the most relevant talker of the offseason. Conversely, folks have become enamored with the Rodgers sweepstakes.
Daydreaming about Rodgers in purple — even when the Vikings vividly stated their 2025 quarterback plans this week — might be more alluring than the 22-year-old quarterback’s health update.
Longtime Viking Says Goodbye
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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