The Minnesota Vikings were among the most active NFL teams during this offseason, spending a hefty $296 million on free agency, the second-highest amount in the league, according to Over The Cap. Their major signings included Will Fries, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, and Ryan Kelly, alongside re-signing key players like Aaron Jones, Byron Murphy Jr., and Harrison Smith.
These moves have signaled that General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is all-in on pushing the Vikings toward a Super Bowl. However, some insiders in the league believe there may be more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
Mike Sando, The Athletic’s NFL senior writer, recently spoke with several NFL executives about the offseason activity of NFC teams, and Minnesota stood out as one of the most intriguing. Executives raised questions about who’s actually making the free-agent decisions: Adofo-Mensah or Vikings Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Grigson.
One exec even drew a parallel to the 2015 Indianapolis Colts, where Grigson’s team signed aging, injury-prone players to second and third contracts, like Trent Cole, Frank Gore, and Andre Johnson. “You can’t build a team with old players, especially ones who’ve been cut because of injuries,” the exec remarked.
Another executive raised concerns about Adofo-Mensah’s expiring contract, which is set to run out after the 2026 NFL Draft. This has led to speculation that if he doesn’t secure a new deal, the team might promote Grigson to his position.
There’s no more fascinating team than Minnesota,” the exec said. “They’ve had 13- and 14-win seasons but no playoff victories, and only one division title. The head coach seems like a difference maker, but if Kwesi doesn’t get a new deal, would they just promote Grigson? It’s fascinating.”
Discussions about a potential new contract for Adofo-Mensah have been ongoing with co-owner Mark Wilf, adding another layer of intrigue to the situation. While Minnesota’s aggressive approach in free agency has certainly garnered attention, the Vikings face limited draft capital, with only four picks in the upcoming draft.
With most of their budget already spent, they have little room to sign top draft prospects. In the short term, the Vikings have made a splash with their signings, but the real hope is that these additions will position the team to contend for a Super Bowl in 2025, as time is quickly running out.
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