{"id":731115,"date":"2026-02-05T12:57:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/731115\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T12:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T12:57:18","slug":"kwesi-adofo-mensahs-greatest-strength-may-have-been-his-downfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/731115\/","title":{"rendered":"Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Greatest Strength May Have Been His Downfall"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Vikings have relieved<\/a> Kwesi Adofo-Mensah from his position as general manager. That we know. Still, nobody is sure what led to the sudden departure.<\/p>\n

While many point to his drafting issues, others speculate that there might be something more going on behind the scenes. In any case, ownership has shown it has faith<\/a> in head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell<\/a> and is willing to put all its belief and funds into his abilities.<\/p>\n

So, why now? What has led to what seems like a rash decision \u2014 and why does it all lead back to the 2022 draft?<\/p>\n

Timing<\/p>\n

The timing of this dismissal is intriguing and unconventional. Ownership typically fires coaches and general managers quickly after the season ends. A good example is the Atlanta Falcons, who fired<\/a> their GM and head coach on January 4, immediately after their 19-17 win<\/a> over the New Orleans Saints.<\/p>\n

However, now that the Vikings have fired Adofo-Mensah somewhat late in the process, the field of potential candidates will have diminished.<\/p>\n

That move is also strange because Adofo-Mensah had joined other staff during postseason evaluations and was evaluating players at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. While he was the most analytically driven GM hired in the NFL, the analytics on his four seasons\u2019 worth of player acquisitions could have been his downfall.<\/p>\n

The 2022 Draft<\/p>\n

One of the most crucial jobs of the GM is to assemble the personnel needed to field the best product. The best and most cost-effective way to do so is through the draft.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where Kwesi deserves most of the blame.<\/p>\n

Adofo-Mensah stepped into the role after working in analytics and developing a Wall Street mindset<\/a> \u2014 and having never coached the sport, let alone played. His ability to sign free agents seemed hit-or-miss, but his ability to correctly grade the players the team drafted was highly suspect.<\/p>\n

It all started with his first draft class in 2022. The Vikings made 10 picks, but only Ty Chandler<\/a> and Jalen Nailor<\/a> remain in Minnesota. They drafted Chandler in the fifth round and Nailor in the sixth.<\/p>\n

Adofo-Mensah\u2019s first two picks, Lewis Cine<\/a> and Andrew Booth<\/a>, will play<\/a> in the UFL this spring. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Vederian Lowe<\/a>, Minnesota\u2019s sixth-round pick in 2022, might play in the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots on Sunday.<\/p>\n

GET LOWEEEEEEEEE!!!!@DrakeMaye2<\/a> | @VederianLowe<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: FOX pic.twitter.com\/7mN8I7nSJY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 17, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

The Vikings had some success in the draft with Nailor, Will Reichard<\/a>, and Donovan Jackson<\/a>. Still, most of their draft picks turned into fool\u2019s gold. Jordan Addison<\/a> has shone on the field, but his off-the-field activity has caused some fans to hope he\u2019s traded<\/a> away.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s harder to accurately judge Minnesota\u2019s 2024 and 2025 classes because they may need more time to grow into their roles. However, while drafts and other acquisitions are crucial parts of a GM\u2019s job, that couldn\u2019t be the only reason they fired Adofo-Mensah.<\/p>\n

Tension<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to fathom that there wasn\u2019t some residual tension between him and ownership over his contract negotiations<\/a> at the end of the 2024 season. After KOC signed early, ownership waited what seemed like forever to get his deal done. Was ownership unsure of him then? Did Adofo-Mensah do anything since then to further give ownership consternation?<\/p>\n

His 2025 free-agency moves ended up being a complete flop, and he has a combined 172 starts between all players he had drafted, with not a single Pro-Bowl among them. Still, the fact that the team was willing to sign him to a long-term contract after 2024 spoke to ownership\u2019s belief that he could right the ship.<\/p>\n

As his \u201ccoolest story ever<\/a>\u201d turned into something one would tell around a campfire to scare Vikings fans, he compounded prior decisions and left fans struggling to comprehend what happened at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n

These questions and more can\u2019t be answered until KOC, the Wilfs, or someone else in the front office is willing to divulge the secrets to this divorce.<\/p>\n

The Vikings have shown faith in their head coach and will move forward with the draft process with executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski as the interim<\/a> GM.<\/p>\n

The Vikings are choosing to take their time, be careful about their next GM, and wait until after the draft to decide. Until then, fans are left watching their quarterback from 2024 in the Super Bowl and wondering how their team decides how to make a playoff run next season.<\/p>\n

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