At some point, the draft classes need to start helping the Vikings in a robust, substantial manner.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and HC Kevin O’Connell have been finding regular season success in spite of the drafting, not because of it. It’s a trend that can’t continue if the goal is to actually become a legitimate contender, not just a team that’s capable of running roughshod on a regular season schedule before faceplanting in the playoffs.
The Main Issue Holding the Vikings Back
The glaring issue, no doubt, is the ten-person draft class from 2022.
Overhauling the secondary with youthful speed was one of the main goals, as the selections of safety Lewis Cine (No. 32), corner Andrew Booth Jr. (No. 42), and corner Akayleb Evans (No. 118) demonstrate. None of these players are still in town.
Even worse, defensive end Esezi Otomewo has already been cut and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe got traded away. Tight end Nick Muse has also taken his talents elsewhere. The end result is just guard Ed Ingram, linebacker Brian Asamoah, running back Ty Chandler, and receiver Jalen Nailor remaining. Do any of these four players earn a second contract? If not, then Minnesota’s debut draft with Adofo-Mensah leading the charge was even more of a colossal failure.
The issue is that subsequent drafting has led to similar reasons for skepticism.
In 2023, the GM sunk his opening pick into receiver Jordan Addison. The on-field play has been good but the off-field driving incidents are reason for concern, so we’ll see how things develop with the No. 23 selection. The next two picks — defensive backs Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward — haven’t had much chance to make a difference due to getting hurt (Blackmon) and being buried on the depth chart (Ward).
The final trio of selections from that season — defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (whom they traded up to acquire), quarterback Jaren Hall, and running back DeWayne McBride — are no longer employees of the Minnesota Vikings.
So, at best, the 2023 draft class has left Minnesota with three potential contributors, half of the total who were drafted. All of Addison (off-field issues), Blackmon (injury), and Ward (depth chart placement) leave some reason for doubt.
One redeeming reality from this period is that the GM snagged Ivan Pace Jr. as an UDFA, so give the top executive full marks for acquiring the linebacker who is already a starter.
Finally, there’s the 2024 group.*
So much hinges on what happens with quarterback J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner. If those two turn into a QB1 and EDGE1 for the next decade, then a lot of former draft sins will be forgiven and forgotten. That’s the power of those two players playing those two positions.
Now what happens if Will Reichard proves to be an excellent K1? The draft would be a home run, slam dunk, and hole-in-one. The cluster of late-round linemen — offensive tackle Walter Rouse, center/guard Michael Jurgens, and defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez — still have a chance to pop. Seeing these guys even turn into strong depth options would be a win.
In 2025, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to be working with four draft selections. Or, at least, that’s the plan as of right now. The GM has demonstrated a proclivity for trading, so there’s a good chance there’s a swap or two that leads to the Vikings plucking more than four players out of the cluster of talent.
Getting some of these youngsters to start contributing in a hearty manner would make a world of difference for the Vikings as they seek to ascend into becoming one of the NFL’s legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
* Corner Khyree Jackson tragically lost his life in a car accident last summer. He’s being excluded from the analysis but he has not been forgotten.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
