KAM....just take the deal, dude....

[JustInTime]

Let me see if I can win some hearts and minds.

• Who hired the coach of the year?
  
• Who authored the single most successful FA signing class in 2024?
  
• Who followed up that 2024 FA class with another FA class, which isn’t done yet, with another class that might be more impactful?
  
• Who oversaw a competitive rebuild that garnered 34 wins in 3 seasons?
  
• Who got us out of cap hell?
  

I mean if all you see is a horrific draft class followed by a second that should have 2 starters when all is said and done, well enjoy wallowing in that. 

Ill take all the above bullet points, plus a real knack for unearthing UDFA: Pace, McGlothern, Ritchter and Murphy (the last two who are very highly regarded by the team) plus the fact we’re pretty much in agreement that this is at minimum a playoff roster soon to mature into a championship caliber roster and run with it. 

Are there GMs I’d take over him, you bet. Veech, Roseman, Holmes, maybe Beane. After that who’s even noteworthy? Gutey? Schneider? Paton? 

The board seems to have a really big set of blinders on when it comes to evaluating the job Kwesi has done. But, pound away at the one facet of the job that he’s had limited success at. I’ll go Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid on this hill 24/7/365.

[StickierBuns]

^^^

This....

As much as we lump JJM/Turner together, the truth is the QB is most important - and its not close. 

Turner is important, JJM critical.

If we only count how a GM does drafting QBs.....there aren't many good GMs in the NFL, lol. I feel you here. But there has to be more to it. And KAM wasn't going to be drafting any QBs that KOC didn't approve of first. And Minnesota was interested in Kevin O'Connell long before they hired KAM.

So KAM gets the credit for signing Van Ginkel and Greenard....or does BFlo get the credit for making them work? Wait, hold on, I know the answer! 'Two things can be true'!

[Montana Tom]

Let me see if I can win some hearts and minds.

• Who hired the coach of the year?
  
• Who authored the single most successful FA signing class in 2024?
  
• Who followed up that 2024 FA class with another FA class, which isn’t done yet, with another class that might be more impactful?
  
• Who oversaw a competitive rebuild that garnered 34 wins in 3 seasons?
  
• Who got us out of cap hell?
  

I mean if all you see is a horrific draft class followed by a second that should have 2 starters when all is said and done, well enjoy wallowing in that. 

Ill take all the above bullet points, plus a real knack for unearthing UDFA: Pace, McGlothern, Ritchter and Murphy (the last two who are very highly regarded by the team) plus the fact we’re pretty much in agreement that this is at minimum a playoff roster soon to mature into a championship caliber roster and run with it. 

Are there GMs I’d take over him, you bet. Veech, Roseman, Holmes, maybe Beane. After that who’s even noteworthy? Gutey? Schneider? Paton? 

The board seems to have a really big set of blinders on when it comes to evaluating the job Kwesi has done. But, pound away at the one facet of the job that he’s had limited success at. I’ll go Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid on this hill 24/7/365.

I'll go with this agreement.  Even Kwesi acknowledges he whiffed on that first draft.  Or as Jalen Hurts so aptly described..."when you drop a deuce in the toilet, you don't just stare at it...you flush it and move on"

[MaroonBells]

You are spin doctoring to make your point. 6 picks, one being impactful. So all Drafts are judged well if they hit on one player? Piss poor percentage. I happen to think Blackmon has a chance. Thank you for graciously recognizing the 2022 Draft as one of the worst in Viking's history   What 'culture' has KAM brought to the equation? He's got much to prove, its why he hasn't been re-upped on his contract. Why play hard ball if he's that good? No reason of course. The jury is still very out on the KAMster.

I think your opinion is fairly typical among those who pay little attention to the draft and have no grasp of context. The first round hits at 50%, 2nd round about half that and then half again every subsequent round. If you keep that in mind, and you pay attention to what the rest of the league does, you start to see things more clearly. But go ahead, let's see the 20 or more teams you obviously think had a better '23 draft than the Vikings. Here are some names you should know: Bryce Young, Richardson, Tyree Wilson, Forbes, Bresee, etc. How about a Packer? Think they'd love to have Jordan Addison right now instead of stuck with Lukas Van Ness? Deonte Banks? Or how about a Wolverine? Mazi Smith ring a bell? 

I'll assume your culture comment is sarcasm? You can't honestly believe our culture is bad.

[JustInTime]

Ok, so it’s me, Maroon and Montana vs the whole Mexican army.

I like our chances

[MaroonBells]

Let me see if I can win some hearts and minds.

• Who hired the coach of the year? KOC wasn't hired. He magically appeared behind a burning bush.
  
• Who authored the single most successful FA signing class in 2024? They would be nothing without Flores.
  
• Who followed up that 2024 FA class with another FA class, which isn’t done yet, with another class that might be more impactful? Anybody can spend money. 
  
• Who oversaw a competitive rebuild that garnered 34 wins in 3 seasons? All KOC's doing
  
• Who got us out of cap hell? Brzezinksi
  

Look, you're new (ish) and I know the Kwesi haters. I've put their likely answers above. But you forgot my favorite...Who drafted our franchise QB? That was a KOC pick. Love that one. The artful lengths some will go to to avoid giving credit to the GM blows your mind. Oh wait, I have another! Who signed Ivan Pace Jr? He wasn't drafted, so that doesn't count.

[MAD GAINZ]

Look, you're new (ish) and I know the Kwesi haters. I've put their likely answers above. But you forgot my favorite...Who drafted our franchise QB? That was a KOC pick. Love that one. The artful lengths some will go to to avoid giving credit to the GM blows your mind. Oh wait, I have another! Who signed Ivan Pace Jr? He wasn't drafted, so that doesn't count.

If you don't think Kevin O'Connell had the biggest say in us drafting JJ, I don't know what to say.  Kwesi even said that the organization leaned heavily into KOC's opinions on which QB to select and also gave him full latitude on determining when he would potentially start.

So sure, give Kwesi credit for the minor trade manuevering to secure JJ McCarthy at 10, but that pick was 90% Kevin O'Connell saying this is the guy I like if we can get him.

---

And as far as Kwesi's resume as a GM...

We've hashed this out numerous times already... You can spin him any way you want.

Bottomline is he's had some questionable draft results if you look at the last 3 years cumulatively (including draft day trades).

He's whiffed on some minor player/pick trades and Hock was a hit.

He's done very well with these last two FA classes. I do like that we moved off Cousins contract to facilitate building a team around a rookie QB contract.

I'll say he's trending up and hopefully learning on the job. But let's not act like he doesn't deserve any criticism. For as many good things as he's done, you can point to the same number of negative results.

[MaroonBells]

If you don't think Kevin O'Connell had the biggest say in us drafting JJ, I don't know what to say.  Kwesi even said that the organization leaned heavily into KOC's opinions on which QB to select and also gave him full latitude on determining when he would potentially start.

So sure, give Kwesi credit for the minor trade manuevering to secure JJ McCarthy at 10, but that pick was 90% Kevin O'Connell saying this is the guy I like if we can get him.

Of course Kwesi leaned heavily into KOC's opinion on the matter. Because he's not an idiot.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

Better give Kwesi credit for hiring Flores. That was a brilliant move.
Kwesi is doing things in a different way. That makes some people uncomfortable. His team has been more successful than expected for the most part. When I look ahead I see a bright future for the Vikings with Kwesi as GM. He knows he will need to acquire young developmental players and depth through the draft in the next couple of years. There some good young players on the team now, and I can't wait to see what he does in the draft. I expect him to trade out, or down, in the first round if he can get the right deal.
I have no doubt he will be extended. There's no hurry!

[MAD GAINZ]

Of course Kwesi leaned heavily into KOC's opinion on the matter. Because he's not an idiot.

So then why is someone a Kwesi hater if we all agree that KOC was the main decision maker behind the JJM pick?

Most people HERE (not on Twitter or X or whatever) that have been critical of some of Kwesi's decision making have also given him credit for what he's done well.  Me, Supa, and others have given him his flowers when warranted.  It's fine if you and Barr think he's the next great GM.  Maybe he will be, but his track record in his first 3 years wasn't that definitive or he'd have gotten an extension as soon as KOC's was announced.