Vikings’ General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the Hot Seat?

Current Minnesota Vikings’ general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired after the 2021 season when former general manager Rick Spielman was fired. Adofo-Mensah arrived in Minnesota with a difficult situation. He had to find a new head coach, replace aging veterans, and get the team’s salary cap situation more financial stable.

In the grand scheme of things, Adofo-Mensah has done a great job with those things. He hired head coach Kevin O’Connell, moved on from aging veterans like Kirk Cousins, and finally has money to spend in free agency starting in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Vikings’ to Pursue Top Wide Receiver Next Offseason?

However, the biggest problem with Adofo-Mensah has been his draft classes. With the unproven draft class of 2024, Adofo-Mensah’s 2022 and 2023 draft classes have been extremely lack luster, outside of wide receiver Jordan Addison. But even then, Addison has had his fair share of off the field problems.

Minnesota Vikings’ beat reporter lists Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the hot seat

Although Adofo-Mensah has done some great things, as a general manager in the NFL, you are judged on your draft classes when everything is all said and done. Given the poor draft classes, there’s a reason why Kevin Seifert (ESPN) listed Adofo-Mensah as the one person from the Minnesota Vikings’ organization that’s on the hot seat.

Having to choose any player, coach, or executive that's on the hot seat for the #Vikings, @SeifertESPN selected GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah 👀

"After he used 7 draft picks in April to maneuver for edge rusher Dallas Turner, Adofo-Mensah has only 3 picks in the 2025 draft to further… pic.twitter.com/Ej0guJMZjB

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 19, 2024

For understandable reasons, Adofo-Mensah embarked on a quarterback transition as he entered the third season of a four-year contract. But rookie J.J. McCarthy will miss the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, making Sam Darnold the likely starter. And after he used seven draft picks in April to maneuver for edge rusher Dallas Turner, Adofo-Mensah has only three picks in the 2025 draft to further improve the team. A bad season wouldn’t necessarily cost Adofo-Mensah his job, but it could inform owners Zygi and Mark Wilf’s decision on whether to extend his contract or let him enter its final season in 2025

Kevin Seifert (ESPN)

Although it’s extremely unlikely that Adofo-Mensah is fired next offseason, Seifert does hint that Minnesota Vikings’ ownership could wait to extend his contract and let him enter the final year of his contract in 2025. This is usually rare for general managers and coaches since they don’t want them entering a “lame-duck” year.

What’s next for Minnesota Vikings’ general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah?

It’s pretty certain that Adofo-Mensah will be around in 2025 and likely receiving an extension. As to how long that extension is, that remains to be seen. Adofo-Mensah selected the quarterback of the future with J.J. McCarthy, so he’ll likely get more time to see if McCarthy turns out to be the player he’s projected to be.

According to @SeifertESPN, the injury to @Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy could potentially have an impact on the contract extensions of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and HC Kevin O'Connell 👀

"Both O'Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are in the 3rd year of 4-year contracts. They were hired in… pic.twitter.com/Hpal26AUT1

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 14, 2024

His 2024 draft class seems somewhat promising, but it’s far to early to project anything until we see them in real NFL regular season games. Overall, Adofo-Mensah has earned himself another couple years to see the full plan come into effect. However, if there’s any major road blocks along the way, especially with drafted players, his time in Minnesota could be shorter than many think.