Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first season as the Vikings general manager was definitely successful. He hired head coach Kevin O’Connell who came in and led the team to a 13-4 regular season record that secured the team the NFC North Championship.
He also swung a midseason trade that landed the team tight end TJ Hockenson, who had a huge, positive impact on the Vikings’ offense, and looks to be the long-term answer at the position.
Kwesi also flipped the culture of the Vikings, making it a team and environment players want to be a part of and actually enjoy playing for. Those were all huge successes for Adofo-Mensah and things he can continue to build off of in the future.
While his overall first season was a major success, there were some moves he made that didn’t pan out. Here are his four worst decisions during his first season as the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings.
Bad Decision No.1: Trading For Ross Blacklock
This was one of the bigger head-scratchers of Kwesi’s first year in charge of the Vikings. About a week before the start of the regular season, the Vikings cut Armon Watts who was in line to start. Then they announced they made a trade with the Texans to acquire Ross Blacklock.
Blacklock was a former second-round pick of the Houston Texans who was still looking to breakout after two disappointing seasons in the league. It was seen as a low-risk high reward type of move since the Vikings only gave up a sixth-round pick in exchange for Blacklock and a seventh-round choice.
Unfortunately for Adofo-Mensah, Blacklock apparently is what we’ve seen through two seasons, which is that he is not a very good football player. He suited up for 11 games where he mustered a sack and two tackles. Watts, who was cut in Blacklock’s stead, went on to have 35 tackles, a sack, and four tackles for a loss for the Bears.
There was a little cap saving in the move, but it’s hard to argue the team wouldn’t have been better with Watts in the lineup and the Vikings would still have a sixth-round choice this April.
Bad Decision No.2: Trading Down From Pick 12 to 32
It’s conflicting to put this trade on here because chances are still very high and very likely that Lewis Cine develops into a very good football player. After year one though, it’s tough to not call this a bad decision.
This was a bad decision for a few reasons. The first was that it was a trade in the division which allowed a team the Vikings have to face twice a season, to get an electric playmaker. Jameson Williams was injured the majority of the season but he did score a long touchdown against the Purple in his debut game and has the skill and crazy speed to be a killer to the Vikings’ defense for many years.
What also may end up haunting them is the players the Vikings allowed to get away by moving down twenty spots. Jameson Williams would look really nice right about now to pair with Justin Jefferson. Kyle Hamilton was a different safety the Vikings could have taken and ended up going a few picks later to the Ravens. He started slow but ended up having a great season. Some other players who would’ve looked beautiful in purple would have been Jordan Davis, Zion Johnson, Trent McDuffie, and Dax Hill.
The third reason why this wasn’t a great move was the compensation. The Vikings moved down twenty spots and got pick 32, 34, and 66, while also giving up pick 46. The Lions got the better of the deal according to the trade value chart, and now Kwesi may be seen league-wide as a guy other general managers can take advantage of on draft day.
Bad Decision No.3: Trading For Jalen Reagor
Prior to the start of the regular season, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a deal with the Eagles to acquire former first-round wide receiver, Jalen Reagor. Reagor had flamed out with the Eagles after two seasons in the league and was a guy whose welcome in Philadelphia was getting razor thin.
The Vikings sent a 2023 seventh-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick to the Eagles for Reagor. It was assumed that Reagor would be the team’s primary punt returner and be a gadget wide receiver who Kevin O’Connell could use in a variety of ways.
Reagor did end up being the Vikings’ punt returner but did little in the role. He averaged just 6.4 yards a return and never was close to busting one for a game-changing score. His role on offense was also very limited, as he caught just eight passes for 104 yards and a score.
The Vikings would’ve been better off just rolling with Jalen Nailor as their punt returner and keeping their picks. Reagor may still end up with this role next season, but it’s also a strong possibility that he doesn’t even make the team, which would obviously make this decision much, much worse.
Bad Decision No.4: Trading With Packers
Kwesi made it clear he isn’t afraid to trade within the division. He did it in round one with the Lions and he did it again with the Packers allowing them to take Christian Watson.
Sure, there was a ballsy aspect of this trade as Adofo-Mensah said, “Yes, we will have to face that player twice a year but they will also have to face us.” There’s truth to that but you never want to allow your division rival to get their hands on a special talent. The jury is still out on Watson but all signs point to him being a very good player in the league and one who could give the Vikings fits for years.
Watson overcame a slow start to finish his rookie year with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. He proved he wasn’t just a straight-line speed guy as his route running improved over the season. He also showed the ability to go up and high-point the football winning more than his fair share of contested catches.
The Vikings turned the picks they received into Andrew Booth Jr. and Ed Ingram. Booth missed the majority of the season with injuries, and Ingram started every game but really struggled in pass protection and never improved. Time will ultimately tell if this will end up being a good trade for the Vikings or not, but why even take the chance to give your hated rival a dangerous offensive playmaker?