In their first year as general manager and head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell led the team to an unexpected NFC North title with a 13-4 record. However, their success was short-lived as they suffered a disappointing home playoff loss to the New York Giants.
In the following season, the Vikings faced challenges with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffering a torn Achilles injury for the first time in his career. Despite their efforts to remain competitive, the team finished with a disappointing 7-10 record.
As Cousins’ contract came up for renewal, Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell decided not to give him a new deal, opting to remake the Vikings in their own image. They made significant changes in free agency and the draft, bringing in promising rookie talents such as quarterback J.J. McCarthy, defensive end Dallas Turner, and record-breaking kicker Will Reichard from Alabama.
Along with parting ways with Cousins, the Vikings also saw defensive standout Danielle Hunter leave in free agency. However, Adofo-Mensah made moves to bolster the defense by signing outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, as well as inside linebacker Blake Cashman. The addition of Turner in the draft further strengthened the team’s pass rush.
The Vikings have made significant improvements on the defensive end, aiming to continue their progress and potentially become a top-10 unit this season. The success of the defense will largely depend on the impact of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has impressed scouts with his skills and coachability. Despite initially being behind veteran Sam Darnold on the depth chart, McCarthy is expected to challenge for the starting job sooner rather than later.
Overall, Adofo-Mensah’s offseason moves have positioned the Vikings as contenders in the competitive NFC North. With a revamped roster and promising rookie talent, the team is looking to build on their previous successes and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming season.
