Ranking Kwesi’s 28 Draft Picks
The Minnesota Vikings have fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after four years. One of the major criticisms of his tenure was his track record in the Draft. He ultimately selected 28 players — so let’s rank them from best to worst.
A few notes: We’ll focus on the impact the players had on the Vikings, not elsewhere. The draft slot will be considered. Finding a rotational player in the 7th round is great; finding that in the 1st round is a problem.
Out of respect, Khyree Jackson, who was selected in the 2024 Draft, will not be included in the list.
27. Lewis Cine
His first pick was also the worst. Safety Cine was selected with the 32nd pick in 2022 after a controversial trade-down. He played in ten games with the Vikings, mostly contributing on special teams with a whopping one tackle. Adofo-Mensah released his first-ever choice in the summer of 2024.
26. Andrew Booth
Cornerback Booth went 41st overall in 2022. He was considered a promising talent with injury concerns and unfortunately, those continued in the Twin Cities. The Vikings shipped him to Dallas during the 2024 preseason. He was not the worst player on the list, but the production of 23 games and 256 defensive snaps was undoubtedly not worth a 2nd rounder.
25. Kobe King
King, picked 201st last year, was cut in October and the New York Jets claimed him off waivers. He played five games and made four tackles with the Vikings. There was nothing wrong with the pick in a vacuum, but combined with the exit, the selection was a flop.
24. Esezi Otomewo
Minnesota alumnus Otomewo is the forgotten 5th-rounder from 2022, going 165th overall. In his rookie season, he appeared in five games as a rotational player, but he was axed when Brian Flores arrived in 2023. Drafted for a different scheme, Otomewo played for the Jaguars in 2024 and the Steelers in 2025.
23. DeWayne McBride
Running back McBride was a 7th-rounder in 2023. The UAB prospect dominated in the Conference USA, but never got a shot in the NFL. Folks had high hopes for him, but he looked pretty slow in the preseason and has never seen an NFL field in the regular season.
22. Jaren Hall
Hall, a 2023 pick (164th), started a couple of games in his rookie season and he was clearly not ready for that stage, exiting concussed once and getting benched the other time. The Vikings cut him in the 2024 offseason and he hasn’t been on the field since.
21. Walter Rouse
Offensive tackle Rouse showcased solid play in his collegiate career, but his NFL journey has been rocky. The 6th-rounder from 2023 (177th) has appeared in eight games so far and the future outlook is murky. He was even held out of games in which the Vikings had injury problems at tackle. Still, he’s the first player who’s still on the team.
20. Jaquelin Roy
Tackle Roy was part of the 2023 class, joining in the 5th round with pick 141. The LSU product appeared in 12 games as a rookie but was waived entering Year 2. He contributed in New England in 2024 and has missed the Super Bowl campaign on IR.
19. Gavin Bartholomew
Unlike Rouse, Bartholomew has not played for the Vikings, but there’s a good chance he will in 2026. He cost the club the 202nd pick in 2025 and the 6th-rounder missed his entire rookie season with a nagging back injury. He’ll feel like an additional pick this year.
18. Tai Felton
Comparable to Bartholomew but without the injury, this ranking is based on hope. Still, the 2025 3rd-rounder (102nd) has caught only three passes for 25 yards. On special teams, he has been excellent, though.
17. Brian Asamoah
Linebacker Asamoah was expected to be the longterm replacement for Eric Kendricks, but the 3rd-round pick (66th) turned out to be a special-teams player for three years and barely played on defense. Drafted for Ed Donatell’s defense, he was another victim of that change.
16. Mekhi Blackmon
Cornerback Blackmon was the final pick (102nd) in the 3rd round of the 2023 Draft. He showed promise as a rotational corner in his rookie season and was expected to make a jump as a sophomore. A torn ACL in training camp cost him that season and the Vikings traded him to the Colts in 2025. His Vikings tenure was unfortunate and the trade perhaps premature.
15. Vederian Lowe
Lowe is a strange case. The 2022 6th-rounder (184th) appeared in four contests in his rookie season, playing exclusively on special teams. In the 2023 offseason, the Vikings traded him to New England for a 6th-rounder. Though barely helping on the field, he returned exactly his value. Lowe has been a valuable backup for the Patriots, playing in all 20 games this season.
14. Nick Muse
Tight end Muse cost only a 7th-rounder in 2022. His on-field contributions were limited to only one catch and help on special teams. Still, he provided depth for three seasons and moved on during the 2024 offseason to win a Super Bowl with the Eagles. Like Lowe, his pick was pretty much a wash.
13. Ty Chandler
Running back Chandler has just completed his entire rookie deal, as one of only two players from the 2022 class. He joined in the 5th round with pick 169. He has been a depth runner and kick returner, playing in 40 games and scoring three touchdowns while recording nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
12. Ed Ingram
Offensive guard Ed Ingram is another tricky evaluation. He cost the Vikings the 59th overall pick, a 2nd-rounder in 2022. The full-time starter in 2022 and 2023 lost his job during the 2024 season to Dalton Risner and was traded in March of 2025. Ingram started 41 games, but his play was inconsistent. It’s easy to make a case for him to rank higher or lower.
11. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Rookie Ingram-Dawkins — pick 139 in 2025 — appeared in 14 games in his first season. He’s still a raw player, but has shown promise. It’s another significant projection for the future. He’ll be a sneaky breakout candidate entering his second season.
10. J.J. McCarthy
Perhaps the hardest person to place on this entire list, the 10th overall pick of the 2024 Draft requires some projection moving forward. At this point, he certainly hasn’t been worth his selection, but there’s still hope he can develop into a franchise quarterback. His last few games were promising. If he does improve, he’ll easily enter the top five; if he doesn’t, he’ll rank in the 20s. Unlike most players behind him, he’s still around and can actually climb the list.
9. Akayleb Evans
Cornerback Evans was Kwesi’s draft crush in 2022, ultimately costing a 4th-rounder, pick 118. After showing promise in his rookie season, he was a starter in 2023. He was waived during the 2024 season and has been a backup for the Panthers ever since. Evans played 1,020 defense snaps with the Vikings.
8. Michael Jurgens
Jurgens, a center from the 7th round of the 2024 Draft (230th) has played in 18 games through two seasons, logging three starts. In two of those, he played quite well and could be considered for the starting role moving forward. Even as a backup option, he has been well worth his draft position.
7. Levi Drake Rodriguez
Defensive tackle Rodriguez was selected in the same round as Jurgens, but with pick 232. After a quiet rookie season, Rodriguez played in 16 games in 2025, making a couple of sacks and 43 tackles. He was an important piece in the defensive line rotation and another jump is possible.
6. Jay Ward
Safety Ward was picked 134th in 2023. The 4th-rounder has played in 50 games through his first three campaigns and he’s been excellent on special teams. Towards the end of the 2025 season, Brian Flores deployed Ward more and more. He’s another breakout option.
5. Donovan Jackson
Offensive guard Jackson arrived with the 24th overall pick in last year’s Draft. In his rookie year, Jackson appeared in 14 games. He displayed toughness when he played through a wrist injury that required surgery and he quickly returned after the procedure. The national champion had the kind of rookie season a longtime starter has.
4. Dallas Turner
The other 1st-rounder from the 2024 Draft, Turner has emerged as a true difference-maker in the second half of his sophomore year. Actually, it’s not that hard to make the case that he’s the best player on the list except for the man at the top spot, but he did cost the 17th overall pick, even if we’re ignoring the expensive trades that led to the pick landing in Minnesota. The eight sacks in 2025 are a reason for hope that he can turn into a longterm star for the Vikings.
3. Jordan Addison
Wideout Addison, the 23rd pick in 2023, has been a real weapon for the Vikings in his first three seasons. Of course, the off-field headlines are annoying, but there’s no denying that he can play the game. In 41 games, Addison has generated 2,499 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns.
2. Jalen Nailor
After three straight first-rounders, here’s a 6th-rounder who has quietly put together a decent rookie contract stint. After early career injury problems, Nailor has been a reliable WR3 for two consecutive seasons. He logged 1,066 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons.
1. Will Reichard
Of course, the best pick is Mr. Reichard, the kicker selected at pick 203 in 2024. The Alabama alumnus is coming off a near flawless season, hitting all 31 extra points and going 33 of 35 from field goal range. Reichard is an All-Pro and deserves the top spot.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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