2024 Has Been A Validation Year For Kwesi
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
There was plenty of chatter all offseason about whether Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was the right guy for the Minnesota Vikings. When Kwesi initially joined the organization, he talked about bringing a Super Bowl to Minnesota, but some key draft misses led to some question marks. We know how bad the 2022 Draft class was, but less talked about is how, despite landing Jordan Addison, three of the six picks in Kwesi’s 2023 class aren’t even in the organization anymore.
Some wanted Kirk Cousins gone, but many others thought Kwesi might be risking his job by letting the “You Like That?” man go. It was a roll of the dice, but everything is coming up Kwesi. After just five games, not only is his job secure, but the start of the 2024 season has been a pure validation of his vision of the team. The Vikings signed 12 unrestricted free agents this year, and almost all of them positively impacted the team.
The offense all starts with Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones. From the beginning, the Vikings made it clear they had faith in Darnold, despite drafting J.J. McCarthy as their QB of the Future, and Darnold has paid off that belief. After many had counted him out, he has revived his career and is putting himself in line for a big pay day next offseason. In five games, Darnold has thrown for 1,111 yards and 11 touchdowns. Normally, you’d make a wish with stats like that, but what else could Darnold wish for at this point?
While the QB play has been impressive, the ball wouldn’t be moving as smoothly without their other key offensive addition: Aaron Jones. We saw what happened in the second half against the New York Jets, when Jones was out with a hip injury. Without Jones, it’s hard to imagine the Vikings still have a perfect record.
Kwesi is on a run where he’s pushed all the right buttons. Even the widespread concerns about who would be their third wide receiver seem to have been answered, and answered by that infamous 2022 Draft. The GM never lost his faith in Jalen Nailor, and while he only has 137 yards on the season, most have been in key situations.
.@jalennailor's 3rd TD of the season gives the #Vikings a 21-0 lead.
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/ZJxnMM5VBM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 22, 2024
As much attention as the offense has gotten, the defensive moves have been even more heralded and crucial. Jonathan Greenard signed a four-year deal worth $76 million and he’s been a difference maker already. According to Pro Football Focus, he is tied for third in the NFL in pressures with 29. Andrew Van Ginkel signed a two-year contract, and if the season ended today, he would probably be the Defensive Player of the Year. Van Ginkel has two interceptions, and both touchdowns have found the end zone. It doesn’t just end with those two guys though, Shaq Griffin has had a career resurgence, and Blake Cashman has a PFF grade of 75.6.
Kwesi’s success didn’t end in free agency, though; it continued in the draft. While 10th overall pick McCarthy is lost for the entire season with a torn meniscus, that doesn’t diminish what the third-year GM has done. Before the draft, Kwesi also talked about how signing Darnold gave them more options in what they wanted to do in the draft.
“When you think about rebuilding, that position, I think it’s … some scale of quarterback play and then the rest around it. You can look at last year’s Super Bowl for your own example of that,” the GM said. “So when you talk about that, you’re trying to figure out what path you’re on, what avenue you’re going to be on. And really when we enter this draft, we have the flexibility to go either way.
Dallas Turner hasn’t been a star right away, though part of that is because some of these key free agent signings have limited him to 27% of the defensive stat. Early on, his most crucial draft pick was taking Will Reichard at 203rd overall. Kwesi knew the team had to get some long-term consistency at the kicking position, and it looks like he’s found the right guy. Reichard still hasn’t missed a kick or cut his hair (which he won’t do until he misses a kick.)
The best news about what Kwesi has done this season is he has left his options open. Darnold, Jones, and others are on short-term contracts, which means they are free to go a different direction after this season if they like. The biggest question this presents is a pending decision of what to do with Darnold.
But let’s not focus on that now. Instead, it’s time to focus on what Kwesi has built for this season and how he finally might do something no other GM has done: bring the Lombardi Trophy to Minnesota.
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