Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Top 5 Achievements on 3rd Anniversary

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The Minnesota Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 26, 2022, a couple of weeks after parting ways with former general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Top 5 Achievements on 3rd Anniversary

The young executive has formally been on the job for three years and has a 34-17 (.667) record to show for it. The Vikings now hope their Super Bowl window will open under Adofo-Mensah, assuming quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the real deal.

So, on the man’s anniversary, these are the top five achievements of the last two years ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top achievement).

5. Signing UDFA Ivan Pace Jr.

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Some Vikings fans actually debate whether Pace Jr. joining the Vikings was an Adofo-Mensah transaction. It’s quite weird.

Pace Jr. joined the Vikings right after the draft in 2023, and the rest is history. He immediately became a starter and later earned a spot on Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team.

The young Viking is a starter and a mainstay in Brian Flores’ defense

4. Trading for T.J. Hockenson

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Adofo-Mensah traded down two rounds in the 2023 NFL Draft and one round in this year’s event to land T.J. Hockenson on November 1st, 2022. The move fundamentally transformed the Vikings’ offense for the better and was a saving grace in 2023 when Justin Jefferson fell injured.

Hockenson will remain a Viking for a few more years, and Adofo-Mensah’s low-cost trade was a triumph.

The veteran tight end might be more of a factor in 2025; he missed half the 2024 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL.

3. Drafting Jordan Addison

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Adam Thielen left, and Jordan Addison entered. Minnesota could’ve selected a defensive player in the 1st Round during the 2023 NFL Draft — the club ranked 31st per yards allowed in 2022 — but it opted to get richer on offense. Then, it nailed the pick, selecting Addison from USC, and the young playmaker busted out as a rookie.

Soon, the Vikings unleash the offense with quarterback J.J McCarthy, and he will be equipped to succeed in an offense with Justin Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson.

Vikings’ football will never be boring on the field with Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson.

2. “Competitively Rebuilding” the Franchise

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Gradually, Adofo-Mensah rebuilt the Vikings’ roster and salary cap without tanking. To do that, an NFL executive must thread the needle, and he did precisely that.

Adofo-Mensah gracefully paved off-ramps for Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, Eric Kendricks, and other aging players, clearing room for salary cap flexibility and youth — while winning games at the same time.

The man said he’d competitively rebuild the Vikings, and that’s what he did.

The almighty crescendo will be to determine just how good J.J. McCarthy can be.

1. The 2024 Free Agent Class

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Adofo-Mensah found these players in free agency last offseason:

  • Jonathan Greenard
  • Andrew Van Ginkel
  • Blake Cashman
  • Sam Darnold
  • Aaron Jones

That fundamentally changed the course of the 2024 season, set Minnesota up nicely for the future with Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Cashman, and completed the competitive rebuild.


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 Vikings 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.