The Minnesota Vikings Need a New GM
The Minnesota Vikings have made several decisions over the last four years to arrive at this point — a 4-8 record the moment their competitive rebuild plan came to fruition. The competitively rebuilding process has failed, with little hope of a rebound, at least under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
The Vikings don’t make too many kneejerk decisions, but failing to address the current status of the franchise could have long-term implications.
For example, quarterback J.J. McCarthy would have to suddenly mature within a few days and look competent on the field for Adofo-Mensah to regain credibility. Or for ultra-patient folks, McCarthy would have to spend an entire offseason readying himself for 2026, his third year in the NFL, and become game-ready as a franchise quarterback in Week 1 of 2026.
That is not likely, so at the very least, the Vikings’ ownership group must terminate Adofo-Mensah’s contract when the regular season ends, even if his extension years have not yet kicked in.
The Vikings Need New General Management
Since 2022, the Vikings have posted an impressive win percentage, but in 2025, the bottom has fallen out.
Adofo-Mensah’s Draft Record Is Not Encouraging Enough to Continue
Adofo-Mensah took over the Vikings in January 2022 — about four years ago. His first draft class seemed promising for a few months before clues began to hint otherwise. For example, his first two picks, Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth, barely played as rookies — also known as red flags.
Patience was employed by most of the fan base, but then Cine and Booth, along with most of the 2022 rookie class, sans Jalen Nailor, never panned out.
The trend has continued in the three drafts after 2022, though Adofo-Mensah does boast some impressive hits, such as Jordan Addison and Dallas Turner. On the whole, it’s apparent that four years into the experiment, Adofo-Mensah’s draft habits are hindering Minnesota’s long-term goal of winning a Super Bowl.
Recognizing that he has missed on too many draft picks, Adofo-Mensah turned to a bonanza of supplementary free-agent signings and funky trades to compensate. That strategy is not as battle-tested as the draft, which features “free” players.
Here’s the draft skinny —
Draftees Since 2022 Who Have Worked Out:
- Jordan Addison
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jalen Nailor
- Will Reichard
- Dallas Turner
Addison, Reichard, and Turner are extreme feathers in Adofo-Mensah’s cap. The problem? Those men are pretty much it. Three players in five drafts, and one is a kicker.
Draftees Since 2022 Who Have Not Worked Out:
- Brian Asamoah
- Gavin Bartholomew
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Andrew Booth
- Ty Chandler
- Lewis Cine
- Akayleb Evans
- Tai Felton
- Jaren Hall
- Ed Ingram
- Kobe King
- Vederian Lowe
- DeWayne McBride
- J.J. McCarthy
- Nick Muse
- Esezi Otomewo
- Jaquelin Roy
This is a brutal list — brutally and unforgivably too long.
To Be Determined:
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
- Donovan Jackson
- Michael Jurgens
- Walter Rouse
- Jay Ward
Every draft starts with seven selections. Let’s be nice and give Donovan Jackson to Adofo-Mensah as a hit. Even then, he would showcase a 17% success rate in the draft. It’s why the team feels old at the moment, with little optimism about the future. The Vikings’ drafts have not replenished the roster as adeptly as other general managers might around the league.
Had Adofo-Mensah hit a home run on McCarthy, this analysis would not be needed. He’d be forgiven. And while McCarthy could theoretically turn into a sound quarterback, he’s statistically near the very bottom of the list in NFL history among 1st-Round selections. It’s him and JaMarcus Russell by the numbers through a quarterback’s first six starts. If McCarthy continues his bust-worthy trend, Adofo-Mensah is not salvageable.
The best latest example is Tai Felton. He’s a 3rd-Round wide receiver who doesn’t even remotely play offense on Sundays. It’s unfathomable. The guy was drafted six months ago, meaning if Adofo-Mensah has improved, he still has mind-boggling follies.
The Offseason Gaffes Are Piling Up
Last year, the Vikings won 14 games before being unceremoniously spanked and bounced from the Wildcard Round of the postseason. That win percentage masked some sins on Adofo-Mensah’s resume, and rightfully so. Winning cures most sports’ evils.
Still, Adofo-Mensah’s running count of blunders is too large to ignore.
Adofo-Mensah’s Non-Draft Miscues:
- Signing Marcus Davenport in 2023
- Making Alexander Mattison the RB1 in 2023
- Bungling the 2025 Offseason QB Matter (Darnold, D. Jones, McCarthy, A. Rodgers)
- Signing Will Fries for $88 Million over 5 Years
- Awarding Aaron Jones (age 31) $10 Million per Year in 2025
- Trading Harrison Phillips for a Late-Round Pick
- Trading for Sam Howell and then Trading Sam Howell Away
- Misevaluating CB Nahshon Wright, Now a Standout for the Bears
- Trading for Adam Thielen (a Deal w/a 4th-Round Pick to CAR)
- Trading Ed Ingram. Now a Star in Houston
- Overpaying for DTs Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen
If Minnesota had an 8-4 record right now instead of 4-8, these mishaps, too, could be brushed aside. But not at 4-8.
The Super Bowl Window Is Wrecked — and Didn’t Open
This season — right now — was the time when the Vikings were scheduled to contend for a Super Bowl. Not last year, not four years from now. In 2025.
That isn’t happening, and instead, fans are spending Sunday nights on Tankathon.com, wondering what Minnesota must do to secure a Top 10 draft pick.
Yes, the Super Bowl window depended on McCarthy playing competently. No, McCarthy has not played competently. While rolling with McCarthy over Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers invited risk that was worth the gamble per Adofo-Mensah, there is no contingency plan. Carson Wentz was not good enough.
The Super Bowl engine suffered from a failure to launch, and the methods Adofo-Mensah used for four offseasons have not materialized.
He achieved short-term salary cap relief, only to mandate cap problems for his team in 2026, with a club that doesn’t have youth in the pipeline because the draft classes are inadequate.
Adofo-Mensah Cannot Be Trusted with a Top 10 Pick
Indeed, the Vikings owners, Mark and Zygi Wilf, may give Adofo-Mensah one more offseason to fix this conundrum. The Wilfs are businessmen, and businessmen often have more strategic patience than casual Vikings fans.
But how would Adofo-Mensah abruptly start drafting better players? He’s improved from the 2022 class, but that’s like a person bragging about being faster than a slug. Forebearance and diligence are fine and dandy if the Wilfs opt for that route with Adofo-Mensah staying aboard, but if he drafted another quarterback in April and misses, the team will be ruined for three to five more years.
Adofo-Mensah has not earned the right to draft another rookie quarterback. The task should be left to the next guy or gal.
Kevin O’Connell as the Awkward Last Man Standing
The final matter: head coach Kevin O’Connell.
He has some culpability in failing to massage McCarthy into an average-or-better quarterback. However, no one knows for sure “who decides what” at quarterback regarding Darnold, Rodgers, Jones, McCarthy, Drake Maye, etc.
O’Connell has faults — he won’t run the football on a team that screams for an efficient rushing offense — but overall, O’Connell could be somehow saved if the Wilfs find a general manager willing to work with him.
If not, the Wilfs could face what was unthinkable three months ago: firing Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell before their extension years and dollars are paid out.
The current state of affairs is that sorrowful. Outside of uprooting the leadership, there are traps set everywhere for the Vikings based on how Adofo-Mensah has scripted everything since the start of 2022.
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