Wonder whats happening with Kwesi?

[purplefaithful]

I thought this might get done b4 the combine - just 11 days away (2/27).

Maybe they dont view that as a benchmark in the timeline?

Unofficial tampering is probably even b4 2.27

[Waterboy]

I compare Kwesi to our most recent GM, Rick "get me some more 7th round draft picks" Spielman.

Kwesi has proven to me that he's pretty adept at juggling the salary cap with Brezinski and acquiring proven talent through FA (particularly this year, when he got an A+ in Free Agency signings after what we all thought was a slow start). 

So do you get a proven talent by trading future "maybes" (draft picks)?

It's not all about building a team via the draft.  No matter what you say, draft picks are historically a crap shoot. (Dimitrius Underwood anyone?)

Or you could look at Philadelphia who just won the Super Bowl because of their awesome drafts.  (Although Saquon helped).  lol

[Still Hurtn]

Anyone know if Kwesi revamped the scouting team so help with drafting?

[hogjowlsjohnny]

We can't say how much is Kwesi and how much is the influence of Scouting staff and coaches on the draft choices selected. One thing that more certainly is Kwesi, are the moves he makes and the amount of draft capital he gives up to make his moves. He gives up too much draft capital in his trades. I am in favor of giving him a short term contract or a longer term with an out if he fails to improve his drafting. But a long term contract seems risky.

[medaille]

I think until otherwise proven, it’s always about the money. KAM wants a certain number, the Vikings wants a lower number. Fans are weird because they don’t like there to be uncertainty, but there’s no rush to get this done. I think if the Vikings wanted to go in a different direction, they would have brought in his replacement already. That said, he certainly hasn’t earned a top shelf contract. I do think the front office has navigated the rebuild fairly well, we’ve done FA well, but the draft trades haven’t worked out (although you can’t fault them for the ones used to pick JJM). The overall draft picks haven’t shown up, but it’s still early and the injuries and death were unfortunate in a small sample size, and Turner being outshone by our pro bowl FA acquisitions.

[comet52]

Kwesi expanded Rick's department by about 50%. It went from a head count of around 20 to a little over 30. But 2/3 of Rick's old staff (i.e. half the current department) are still there.

It was not an overhaul, more like an expansion. But bloating up the department did not improve drafting, it seems to have gotten a lot worse instead.

[supafreak84]

Kwesi expanded Rick's department by about 50%.  It went from a head count of around 20 to a little over 30.  But 2/3 of Rick's old staff (i.e. half the current department) are still there. 

It was not an overhaul, more like an expansion.  But bloating up the department did not improve drafting, it seems to have gotten a lot worse instead.

That's because the expansion included stupid people like Ryan Grigson and gave him a voice of influence

[Still Hurtn]

Minnesota we have a problem. If Kwesi expanded the scouting room. Drafted like crap. Used several picks for TBD selections, has only a few picks this year then those picks development then next years draft picks and we have to see how they develope. Which means Kwesi knows his butt is on the line so he will trade more picks to get players.. You see where I am going with this?  Further more I not sure I am a fan of competitive rebuild. I would prefer suck for Luck and build through high picks for 1 or 2 seasons. Looking at the current state of the team they will be competitive again with little to no chance at the big dance. So whats the point? Let Sam walk, play JJ, pick up maybe 2 key FA.... Im ranting..sorry

[JustInTime]

To say Kwesi is merely an analytics guy is patently false.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (QUAY-see ah-dough-fo MEN-suh), who was hired as the Minnesota Vikings General Manager on Jan. 26, 2022, enters his third season in Minnesota and 12th season in the NFL in 2024. Adofo-Mensah's first season as a general manager saw the Vikings win the NFC North for the first time since 2017 and secure the second-most wins (13) in a single season in team history.
Prior to his hire by the Vikings, Adofo-Mensah worked closely with Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and provided input for all roster and strategy decisions. Additionally, he assisted Berry and the football staff with overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the team.
In his second season in Minnesota, Adofo-Mensah watched his 2023 NFL Draft class step up in the absence of injured veterans. Rookie WR Jordan Addison assumed the Vikings' No. 1 wide receiver role while Justin Jefferson was on Reserve/Injured, starting 14 of the 17 games he played. His 10 receiving touchdowns tied for the most among all rookies in the NFL (Sam LaPorta) and tied for the fourth most among all players in the league. Addison became the 13th player in NFL history to record at least 900 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his rookie season, and he was tabbed the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October, becoming the first Viking to achieve the honor in 10 years (WR Cordarrelle Patterson, 2013).
In addition to Addison, third-round pick CB Mekhi Blackmon and fifth-rounder QB Jaren Hall both made multiple starts as rookies in 2023. Blackmon appeared in 15 games, making three starts, and he was the only rookie league wide to tally at least eight passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery during the 2023 season. Hall started a pair of games in 2023 after QB Kirk Cousins sustained a season-ending injury at Green Bay in Week 8.
Adofo-Mensah made a slew of savvy roster moves in his first year, including signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to an extension, signing veteran free agent outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith and executing an in-season trade for tight end T.J. Hockenson, all of which earned Pro Bowl honors for the 2022 season. Additionally, Adofo-Mensah also re-signed cornerback Patrick Peterson, who experienced one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career, registering five interceptions and 15 passes defended, both the second-highest single-season totals of this career.
Adofo-Mensah helped oversee the Browns' 2021 NFL Draft, where the team selected CB Greg Newsome II and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, two immediate-impact rookies who landed on the NFL's All-Rookie Team. Newsome, their first-round selection (26th overall), started in 11 games and posted nine passes defensed, the most by a Browns rookie since CB Denzel Ward in 2018. Owusu-Koramoah, their second-round pick (52nd overall), started in 10 games, posted 76 tackles, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. Owusu-Koramoah and Cowboys LB Micah Parsons were the only two rookies in the NFL to have at least 75 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2021.
Prior to the Browns, Adofo-Mensah spent seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he first entered the NFL. During his tenure with the 49ers, Adofo-Mensah quickly advanced in the football research and development department. He joined the team as football research and development analyst (2013-15) before earning promotions to manager of football research and development in 2017 and director of football research and development in 2018. As the lead of football research and development, Adofo-Mensah ran the team's efforts to develop and implement advanced quantitative methods for game strategy and personnel evaluation, playing a vital role in helping the 2019 NFC No. 1 playoff seed 49ers capture the conference title.
While with the 49ers, Adofo-Mensah helped the front office select three All-Pros (LB Fred Warner, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle) and the 2019 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year, defensive end Nick Bosa. Warner inked a long-term contract with the 49ers, making him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL.

Not included in his bio is the absolutely ridiculous FA class of 2024, the drafting of the QBOTF, potential star Edge rusher, and rock solid K who will at one point drop in a 65 yarder.

Just an analytics guy? Please.