Vikings targeted this QB class

Two years waiting on the dance. Now hopefully he can find a dance partner.

• Wait, what? Wouldn’t this notion imply they had/have a plan…!?  :cool: :P

Interesting, considering the situation with Kirk when they took over it was really smart for them to start the process immediately. It also makes sense why they would like Maye so much, since he had an amazing year during when they first started doing their research.

JR44 wrote:
Interesting, considering the situation with Kirk when they took over it was really smart for them to start the process immediately.  It also makes sense why they would like Maye so much, since he had an amazing year during when they first started doing their research.

That's actually a really good point.

MaroonBells wrote:

That's actually a really good point.

You say that like you're surprised.  ;)

The past two years, and their hesitancy to commit to quarterback Kirk Cousins long-term in contract negotiations, occurred under the backdrop of this heralded quarterback class arriving in the NFL draft's first round on April 25.

The Vikings, who currently have two first-round picks at No. 11 and No. 23, are nearing the end of that process with cross-country flights for private workouts and pro days over the past month. 

According to Adofo-Mensah, they have emerged feeling there are multiple players worthy of becoming the Vikings' next franchise quarterback.

"We've kind of felt that way for a long time," he said Thursday.

"There are multiple guys that we are in love with," he added. "But there's also other guys that we are in love with … if we get them at a certain value."

Adofo-Mensah has talked as if the Vikings have many first-round grades on passers in this class.

How many, Kwesi?

"I wish I could give you that answer," he said. "That would make my phone calls a little tougher."

While the Vikings are expected to be aggressive in the first round, Adofo-Mensah reiterated they have not locked into one quarterback. 

He said coaches and evaluators are comfortable leaving a deal on the table if the requested draft picks stockpile beyond their "walkaway price."

"I do think you're supposed to price in, you know, a little bit of irrationality," Adofo-Mensah said. "But then really, it's always about walkaway prices. And walkaway prices, to me, are meaningful because it's another action. Your only leverage in the negotiation is your willingness to do something else."

He also noted that "if the guy's got less ability, but we have assets to go get , those things add up, too."

"We've seen them throw," Adofo-Mensah said. "We've known about them for years and gotten their character . … It's not just maybe the names everybody is thinking of. It's a lot — it's everybody."

"One of the great things we probably learned from our meetings is that we saw a lot of great leaders, and none of them were the same," he added. "And that's OK. You know, you can be the quiet leader; you can be the fiery leader; you can be the lead-by-example guy. It doesn't matter, but I do think there's an intangible sense that's needed."

What are the Vikings looking for? 

Processing and accuracy are among the more important traits, Adofo-Mensah said, as well as the ability to "overcome some stuff," including "a dirty pocket." He mentioned intangibles such as leadership and the ability to learn, both of which the team has tried to evaluate during the interview process.

Adofo-Mensah has been instrumental in structuring head-coaching searches both for the 49ers and Vikings, though he's leaned on O'Connell, the offensive schemer and former NFL quarterback, in this process.

"A lot of it came from Kevin," Adofo-Mensah said. "Since we got here, Kevin's really been adamant about, when you select a quarterback, it's about — it's a marriage. It's that serious, and that level of commitment and work that should go into it."
He added that his contributions have come in "how we measure and process things. But Kevin's been really a big driver of this process and having completed it, I completely see why, and it's been a great value."

Adofo-Mensah was asked if there is a scenario where the Vikings don't draft a quarterback.

"I mean, you have to be ready for everything," he said. "It's a very deep class. So, you know — but I do think you have to be ready for every scenario. If there's elite players at premium positions on the board, I don't think you're supposed to reach or force or anything like that. It's just not what I believe all the while understanding that is the most important position in the sport. So, it's calculating both those things at the same time."

https://www.startribune.com/vikings-gm-kwesi-adofo-mensah-nfl-draft-quarterbacks-trade-up/600358202/

Kwesi's comments are interesting...

• There are multiple quarterbacks in this draft that the #Vikings are in love with — and others that they could be in love with at a certain value

Reckless Speculation: Vikings like Daniels and Maye between 2 and 5, JJM between 5 and 11, Penix at 11 and Nix at 23?

• They have "insurance" if a team doesn't pick up the phone to possibly trade up.

Reckless Speculation: Vikings like QBs beyond the top 4? Or is a trade for a veteran possible? 

• "If the guy's got less ability, but we have assets to go get , those things add up, too."

Reckless Speculation: No freaking clue what this means. 

• "It's a very deep class. So, you know — but I do think you have to be ready for every scenario. If there's elite players at premium positions on the board, I don't think you're supposed to reach or force or anything like that. It's just not what I believe all the while understanding that is the most important position in the sport."

Reckless Speculation: If the Vikings are unable to trade up and the top 4 QBs are off the board at 11, they won't hesitate to take Byron Murphy, an Edge or a Corner and maneuver into a QB between 12 and 23. 

Todd McShay said on the Ryen Russillo podcast that “there is not a single person in the league, evaluators, scouts, directors or GM’s that have a first round grade on Bo Nix.”

The Vikings aren't taking Bo Nix.

Facts- we wanted a QB last year and it didn't work out. So we NEED a QB this year. That's a situation we were trying to avoid but it's come to that. If the prevailing wisdom is to sit your rookie as long as possible, can the Vikings afford to take Penix at 11 and sit him for full year? That'd be (most likely) 2 years in a row of top 15 picks for a franchise not used to being in the top 11 and lower range. So now you're two years removed from Kirk, your best player is pissed he just wasted another year of his career, and how many guys do we even have signed past 2024? Not a ton. Yes, the QB has to be drafted this year and they have to get it right or KAM and possible KO too will be gone. Fair? Not sure. But that's life in the NFL.

Get your guy, pay what it takes, and pray. That's the bed they made and we all have to hope it works out.

Gotta find a dance partner. Not a lot of teams are willing to move out of the top five

In this space, let's go a little deeper into the three most important things Adofo-Mensah said Thursday.

1. "There are multiple guys that we are in love with. But there's also other guys that we are in love with … if we get them at a certain value."

Translation: Adofo-Mensah either truly believes or is trying to create the impression that the Vikings could be happy with any number of quarterbacks in the draft.

There is a sliding scale, essentially, when it comes to what the Vikings are willing to give up for quarterbacks the Vikings flat-out love, but the relative value of someone lower on their board (but still in that "love" category) has to be considered if it helps them build a more complete roster.

2. "It's always about walkaway prices. And walkaway prices, to me, are meaningful because it's another action. Your only leverage in the negotiation is your willingness to do something else."

Translation: The signal he is trying to send to potential trade partners is easy. Don't gouge us. We have options. Perhaps that's in response to reports that moving up to No. 3 for Drake Maye might cost MORE than three first-round picks or that a deal for J.J. McCarthy at No. 4 or 5 could require three first-round picks.

The Vikings are willing to pay a premium to move up for a quarterback, but they have a point at which they will just say no.

3. "The hardest part is if you get the guy right, and he's your answer for 10 years, there's no price you probably wouldn't have paid looking back."

Translation: While the Vikings will balance risk vs. reward, at the end of the day, the amount of draft capital needed to get a player is less important than identifying the right player. It sounds to me like the Vikings' "walkaway price" might be pretty generous if they think they have found that quarterback.

https://www.startribune.com/vikings-nfl-draft-preview-quarterbacks-kwesi-adofo-mensah/600358379/

purplefaithful wrote:
There is a sliding scale, essentially, when it comes to what the Vikings are willing to give up for quarterbacks the Vikings flat-out love, but the relative value of someone lower on their board (but still in that "love" category) has to be considered if it helps them build a more complete roster.

This is the point I've made when someone says the Cardinals won't pass on MHJ. No, they likely won't. But the calculation is not simply MHJ or nothing. It's MHJ vs, say, Rome Udunze and pick 23. If I'm the Cards and those are my options, I take door number two.

MaroonBells wrote:
• "If the guy's got less ability, but we have assets to go get , those things add up, too."

Reckless Speculation: No freaking clue what this means. 

I think I know what this means now, considering the Latham visit. The Vikings see Penix and Nix as the QBs with "less ability." They can take one at 11 and get him help by putting a monster like Latham in front of him. 

Is Penix (or Nix) + Latham = McCarthy? Kind of an odd way to approach it. But that's probably how eggheads think, especially those with economics degrees from Princeton and Stanford.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think I know what this means now, considering the Latham visit. The Vikings see Penix and Nix as the QBs with "less ability." They can take one at 11 and get him help by putting a monster like Latham in front of him. 

Is Penix (or Nix) + Latham = McCarthy? Kind of an odd way to approach it. But that's probably how eggheads think, especially those with economics degrees from Princeton and Stanford.

Agreed, whether the other asset is an OL, stud RB or 3 deep @ WR...

In another vein, it's a little disheartening. I really want a game changer @ QB, not a game manager. This team is not at the level of the 49'ers, I think we need more than what a Brock Purdy brings to the table at the QB position.

I don’t think this is a revelation they specifically targeted this year. They tried to get a guy last year. I expect Kwesi is always looking several years out. I expect he’s already on next years class and the one after.

Havoc wrote:
I don’t think this is a revelation they specifically targeted this year. They tried to get a guy last year. I expect Kwesi is always looking several years out. I expect he’s already on next years class and the one after.

No, I dont think its revealing either. 

But I do think its confirming that it was a main driver in their decision making re: Cousins.