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Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure
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- Rival Execs Continue to Question Minnesota Vikings Power Structure
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The Minnesota Vikings have had what many pundits around the league consider one of the more impressive offseasons so far. They were able to fill most of their biggest roster holes while keeping the maximum number of compensatory picks for 2026 in their back pocket.
They entered free agency with major questions at quarterback, on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines, in the secondary, at running back and at wide receiver. With nearly a month remaining until the NFL Draft, both trenches have been addressed . So has the secondary and backfield.
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Skeptics pick Minnesota Vikings offseason apart
But not everyone is a fan of what the Minnesota Vikings have done over the past month. In fact, there are league executives questioning what exactly general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his front office are trying to accomplish.
From a skeptic's point of view, the Vikings did nothing more than sign a bunch of injury-prone veterans who may look like decent additions on paper, but who in reality, may struggle to stay on the field. Take a peak at what one anonymous NFL executive told Mike Sando (The Athletic)
The top three free agents Minnesota signed — guard Will Fries ($17.5 million APY, turns 27 on Friday), defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ($17 million APY, age 30) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave ($15 million APY, age 32) — combined to miss 35 of 51 games last season.
"It's like the 2015 Colts all over again, signing older guys who have been hurt, who are on third or fourth contracts," one exec said, referencing an Indianapolis team that added 30-something former stars Trent Cole, Frank Gore, Kendall Langford and Andre Johnson in free agency… "You cannot build a team with old players, especially old players who have been cut because they were hurt."
There's really no arguing this anonymous executive's take on the Minnesota Vikings' free agency situation this offseason. They re-signed a 36-year-old Harrison Smith and 30-year-old Aaron Jones filled their interior line questions with guys all over the age of 30, who have struggled to stay healthy during their careers.
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The only 20-something signed was new right guard, Will Fries, who missed most of 2024 due to injury. Should the Vikings' offseason experimenting with the roster were to fail, the first finger would be pointed at the age and injury history of the free agents they signed.
More questions surrounding Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's role with the Vikings
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
And that brings us to the next question raised by these anonymous NFL executives, via Sando's article on Thursday at The Athletic . It isn't the first time we have heard this in the past month, but there are people around the league who continue to question who exactly is calling the shots behind the scenes at TCO Performance Center.
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This time, however, our anonymous executives are naming names. This Vikings' moves this offseason, at least from their experience, seems to have the fingerprints of executive director of player personnel (and former Indianapolis Colts GM) Ryan Grigson all over it. Obviously, the league has noticed how much pull head coach Kevin O'Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have had with roster building, as well.
[The Vikings' free agency strategy] caught execs' attention at a time when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has an unresolved contract. Some are questioning who is making the decisions for Minnesota.
Indy's then-general manager, Ryan Grigson, is now the Vikings' senior vice president of player personnel. Although Minnesota has struggled in the draft recently, the team has fared well at finding veteran pieces for defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
"There is no more fascinating team than Minnesota because they have 13- and 14-win seasons over the past three years but no playoff win to show for it and only one division title," another exec said. "The head coach seems like a difference maker, a multiplier. If Kwesi does not get a new deal, would they just promote Grigson? It's fascinating."
Sando's article goes on to talk about the uncertainty surrounding the Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation, and how weird it got for a little while, with Aaron Rodgers . We all know the approach in Eagan is one of collaboration. But when does collaboration become everyone else doing one guy's job?
Related: New Vikings O-Lineman Helped Sign His Former Teammate
That seems to be the underlying question around the NFL, when it comes to who is calling the shots for the Vikings. Yes, the Wilfs addressed questions about Kwesi's lack of a contract extension this week, essentially telling media members that it is coming. But those plugged into the league seem hesitant to believe him.
Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf sought to quash such speculation at the league meetings , noting that the organization has had "very, very positive conversations" with Adofo-Mensah regarding a new contract. He also indicated there would be no shift in the power dynamic between head coach and GM. But until a new deal is in place, people will wonder.
