KOC signed his contract extension January 21st.....

[StickierBuns]

....and still nothing on KAM other than they 'are talking'. It seems a bit strange to me, anyone else? The Draft is 6 days away, probably the biggest exposure platform for a GM outside the first week of free agency. Will it get done before Thursday? What is the holdup? Length of extension? Does it say something if it doesn't match the length of O'Connell's? (phrasing)

[JustInTime]

No. The plan has always been post draft which is typical for GMs.

[purplefaithful]

No. The plan has always been post draft which is typical for GMs.

Ive been questioning the KAM timing too. This makes sense when I first heard it

[medaille]

I guess it’s pretty common for GM’s to have their contract end after the draft. That said, I doubt it really matters. He’s under contract through the 2026 draft, so it’s not like the contract needs to have been done yesterday. I’m sure it’s more about the difference in his perceived value.

It mostly seems like they’re waiting to see how the roster construction goes including the draft before really assessing his value. The draft has historically been a commonly pointed to “weak part” of his performance up until now. If he really hits on this draft. If JJM and Turner look like studs in the various camps. I’m sure that brings the Vikings closer to the value that Kwesi is asking for. If he flubs the draft, and we trade down too far and end up picking a mid guy rather than a stud, I’m sure his value probably comes down closer to the Vikings offer for him.

KOC was essential to resign. He probably good have named his price. KAM, less so. They could probably let this play out a while before it became an actual issue.

[purplefaithful]

I read there were other teams interested in KOC, the Wilfs felt the need to get him done sooner than later.

[Zanary]

The quiet part out loud: KAM needs to have an impressive draft for his own reputation/security.

As excellent as he's been in free agency (and, this offseason, maybe he's been his best yet), the initial draft ended up being a brutal debut and he's got a lot of hit-and-miss in late April, period. Even the "hits" are bringing injury, legal, etc issues. Much of that can't be foreseen, but it shows up on the resume.

This draft is tricky, due to low number of picks. Hopefully, he finds a way to impress and get his new deal inked.

[badgervike]

The quiet part out loud: KAM needs to have an impressive draft for his own reputation/security.

As excellent as he's been in free agency (and, this offseason, maybe he's been his best yet), the initial draft ended up being a brutal debut and he's got a lot of hit-and-miss in late April, period. Even the "hits" are bringing injury, legal, etc issues. Much of that can't be foreseen, but it shows up on the resume.

This draft is tricky, due to low number of picks. Hopefully, he finds a way to impress and get his new deal inked.

It's a lot easier to be good at FA than the draft.  You have a lot better idea at how the player looks against Pro level competition and frankly you're sifting through a lot fewer potential players.  It's a lot easier to put together a target FA list and prioritize the needs and contingencies.

The Vikings organization has been at the top of the players list for several years now...good ownership, good facilities, good culture, winning team.  All things equal, the players will take the Vikings deal.

[Zanary]

It's a lot easier to be good at FA than the draft.  You have a lot better idea at how the player looks against Pro level competition and frankly you're sifting through a lot fewer potential players.  It's a lot easier to put together a target FA list and prioritize the needs and contingencies.

The Vikings organization has been at the top of the players list for several years now...good ownership, good facilities, good culture, winning team.  All things equal, the players will take the Vikings deal.

Yep, and it's a reason I also prefer free agency to the draft: actual knowledge/footage of the players in the pro games.

Don't get me wrong, once the names are picked next week and the undrafted add-ons are in place...I start paying much more attention. I LOVE it when an Ivan Pace Jr. or an Adam Thielen beats the odds and carves out a future with the Vikings, just as I love watching the actual picks thrive; I watch OTA/camp updates with the same energy that I ignore mock drafts.

But...like some acoustic guitars (Martin is the classic example), you don't know what you've gotten until those early years of beating and banging are absorbed.

[supafreak84]

I just find it interesting because it's not the way the Wilfs have operated in the past. They've had prior coaches and GM's signed to extensions, if not the same day, within a week of each other. So why the change? People can speculate all they want, but I'm guessing it has a lot to do with draft results and despite regular season success we still haven't won a playoff game. I think the Wilfs are playing this smart and waiting to see how the draft plays out and how the season goes before busting out the checkbook and giving Kwesi an extension. Could they end up paying more than they anticipated by waiting, absolutely, but I think that is a gamble they'd be happy to take.

[Kentis]

Could be it’s not the team that’s holding this up, maybe Kwazy is sitting on the offer. I have zero concerns, he & the team have bigger fish to fry at this point…