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The 2025 NFL Draft will be one of the most pivotal of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era. It's easy to say this is the most important draft, as the Minnesota Vikings entered last year's draft needing to come away with a quarterback. However, for his future, Adofo-Mensah needs to find a player who not only helps the future of the Vikings but also contributes to the 2025 team.
Adofo-Mensah's first three drafts have been underwhelming so far, even when taking circumstances into context. He traded down 20 spots in 2022, selecting safety Lewis Cine at pick 32. Cine never threatened to crack the starting lineup in camp, and he suffered a gruesome leg injury that ended his rookie season.
The next three picks in that draft were underwhelming, too. Cornerback Andrew Booth played sparingly and never appeared comfortable when he did see the field. Guard Ed Ingram struggled mightily in pass protection before finally being benched midway through the 2024 season. And linebacker Brian Asamoah never materialized into the every-down starter the team envisioned when they drafted him.
Some of this could be attributed to the defenders being drafted into former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's scheme. He was fired after the Vikings allowed the second-most yards in the league in 2022. Although Brian Flores was a significant upgrade, Cine, Booth, and Asamoah were at a disadvantage due to being poor scheme fits.
The 2023 class showed more immediate results as Jordan Addison caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon showed promise, and the Vikings were hoping he could become a full-time starter in 2024.
Although Addison was excellent again in 2024, Blackmon's season ended on the first day of training camp. He tore his ACL, muddying his future. The Vikings could look for him to fight for a starting spot again, but Blackmon joined the 2022 draft class as another Adofo-Mensah product who couldn't see the field.
The 2024 class is tougher to gauge. A meniscus injury ended J.J. McCarthy's season after one preseason game. EDGE rusher Dallas Turner, the 17th overall pick in the draft, only registered three sacks. But he was stuck behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, who both made the Pro Bowl.
Perhaps Adofo-Mensah would have been given more grace for McCarthy and Turner's lack of playing time had the Vikings seen more production from their previous two rookie classes. Even if Sam Darnold made the Pro Bowl in McCarthy's absence, the success of fellow rookie quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix left fans wondering, "What if?"
Even the success of LA Rams EDGE rusher Jared Verse helped add salt to the wound on Turner. It should be noted that Verse is two years older than Turner, so he was more of a finished product coming out of college. But in a world where fans want gaudy stats and highlight-reel plays, it's hard to be patient in the present while awaiting what could be a better payoff in the future.
Whether fair or not, that puts immense pressure on Adofo-Mensah in next week's draft. Due to circumstances in and out of his control, the Vikings haven't gotten much production from his draft classes. That means spending a lot of money in free agency to address needs that former draft picks were expected to fill.
Perception is reality, and even if Adofo-Mensah's unconventional method to roster construction has gotten the Vikings out of salary cap hell, he still needs to show he can deliver in the NFL's biggest offseason event. Kevin O'Connell got a contract extension after the 2024 season, but Adofo-Mensah, who helped hire O'Connell, still hasn't received his.
That means he has to deliver next week, find value, and come away with at least one Day 1 starter. Strong springs and summers from McCarthy and Turner would help, too, but would that be enough for Adofo-Mensah to receive an extension if he once again has draft picks sitting on the bench?
The Vikings only have four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Does Adofo-Mensah treat them like he would with any other draft? Or does the pressure to prove he can be a competent drafter force him to act out of character, desperately maneuvering the draft board?
We should have more clarity after the draft. Right or wrong, Adofo-Mensah's future may depend more on it than the Vikings'.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: At some point Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has to make a splash
Continue reading...
Adofo-Mensah's first three drafts have been underwhelming so far, even when taking circumstances into context. He traded down 20 spots in 2022, selecting safety Lewis Cine at pick 32. Cine never threatened to crack the starting lineup in camp, and he suffered a gruesome leg injury that ended his rookie season.
The next three picks in that draft were underwhelming, too. Cornerback Andrew Booth played sparingly and never appeared comfortable when he did see the field. Guard Ed Ingram struggled mightily in pass protection before finally being benched midway through the 2024 season. And linebacker Brian Asamoah never materialized into the every-down starter the team envisioned when they drafted him.
Some of this could be attributed to the defenders being drafted into former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's scheme. He was fired after the Vikings allowed the second-most yards in the league in 2022. Although Brian Flores was a significant upgrade, Cine, Booth, and Asamoah were at a disadvantage due to being poor scheme fits.
The 2023 class showed more immediate results as Jordan Addison caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Third-round cornerback Mekhi Blackmon showed promise, and the Vikings were hoping he could become a full-time starter in 2024.
Although Addison was excellent again in 2024, Blackmon's season ended on the first day of training camp. He tore his ACL, muddying his future. The Vikings could look for him to fight for a starting spot again, but Blackmon joined the 2022 draft class as another Adofo-Mensah product who couldn't see the field.
The 2024 class is tougher to gauge. A meniscus injury ended J.J. McCarthy's season after one preseason game. EDGE rusher Dallas Turner, the 17th overall pick in the draft, only registered three sacks. But he was stuck behind Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, who both made the Pro Bowl.
Perhaps Adofo-Mensah would have been given more grace for McCarthy and Turner's lack of playing time had the Vikings seen more production from their previous two rookie classes. Even if Sam Darnold made the Pro Bowl in McCarthy's absence, the success of fellow rookie quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix left fans wondering, "What if?"
Even the success of LA Rams EDGE rusher Jared Verse helped add salt to the wound on Turner. It should be noted that Verse is two years older than Turner, so he was more of a finished product coming out of college. But in a world where fans want gaudy stats and highlight-reel plays, it's hard to be patient in the present while awaiting what could be a better payoff in the future.
Whether fair or not, that puts immense pressure on Adofo-Mensah in next week's draft. Due to circumstances in and out of his control, the Vikings haven't gotten much production from his draft classes. That means spending a lot of money in free agency to address needs that former draft picks were expected to fill.
Perception is reality, and even if Adofo-Mensah's unconventional method to roster construction has gotten the Vikings out of salary cap hell, he still needs to show he can deliver in the NFL's biggest offseason event. Kevin O'Connell got a contract extension after the 2024 season, but Adofo-Mensah, who helped hire O'Connell, still hasn't received his.
That means he has to deliver next week, find value, and come away with at least one Day 1 starter. Strong springs and summers from McCarthy and Turner would help, too, but would that be enough for Adofo-Mensah to receive an extension if he once again has draft picks sitting on the bench?
The Vikings only have four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Does Adofo-Mensah treat them like he would with any other draft? Or does the pressure to prove he can be a competent drafter force him to act out of character, desperately maneuvering the draft board?
We should have more clarity after the draft. Right or wrong, Adofo-Mensah's future may depend more on it than the Vikings'.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: At some point Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has to make a splash
Continue reading...
