ESPN believes the Minnesota Vikings are the NFL’s 10th-best club heading into 2025.
ESPN has raised a red flag about a potential overhaul in Minnesota, pointing to unusual moves by the Vikings that could reshape the franchise after 2025.
Not bad, right? Not at all.
But in ESPN’s latest batch of rankings, it also introduced the players, by team, under the most pressure at the moment, and when it arrived at Minnesota, it called out the Vikings’ draft process, in general, not a specific player or executive.
The sports media giant is evidently not impressed with Minnesota’s draft strategy.
Vikings Rank No. 10 in Power Rankings; Have Strange Flaw
Kevin Seifert from ESPN didn’t hold back with his evaluation.
ESPN Says Vikings “Draft Process” Needs Help
Every team received a power ranking and an “under pressure” player. For Minnesota, though, that pressurized player was … a process.
Seifert explained, “Who’s under the most pressure: Vikings’ draft process. After signing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell to contract extensions and assembling a roster of proven veterans, the team doesn’t have anyone prominent on the hot seat. But it might need to overhaul its draft process in 2026 if it doesn’t see more production from recent picks.”
“WR Jordan Addison was the only starter last season who was drafted between 2022 and 2024. The Vikings need big contributions from QB J.J. McCarthy (2024), LB Dallas Turner (2024) and G Donovan Jackson (2025), at least, to validate their current process.”
Every other NFL team had either a player, coach, or executive under pressure. But Minnesota featured a process, not a person.
Shade at the 2022 Draft Class?
Critiquing Minnesota’s draft process must be code for the notoriously horrendous 2022 draft class onboarded by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
It was the first year on the job for the young executive, and down the line, sans Jalen Nailor and arguably Ty Chandler, the Vikings picked stinkers. Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth headlined the follies, followed closely by Ed Ingram and Brian Asamoah.
Virtually all of the draft class has disbanded, with Nailor and Chandler still on the roster before the 53-man cutdown next week.
Adofo-Mensah’s draft reputation has not fully recovered from his 2022 sins.
What Would Reform Look Like?
Seifert didn’t drop Adofo-Mensah’s name as an “under pressure” candidate. He called the process problematic.
Therefore, the writing on the wall suggests that Adofo-Mensah performs commendably in his job’s other areas, with much to be desired in the draft. Unfortunately for Adofo-Mensah’s sake, the draft is a big damn deal — probably the most vital thing he does each year — so he must right the ship, along with improving the franchise’s process.
The process may need love, but this is an Adofo-Mensah thing. A general manager can’t avoid the draft or outsource it.
Improvement Since 2022
Thankfully, Minnesota’s draft classes have improved since the naughty 2022 display.
Seifert mentioned Addison as a success story from the follow-up draft. Adofo-Mensah also onboarded linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. from the same rookie class via undrafted free agency.
And, of course, the 2024 class is to be determined, with J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner on tap to strut their stuff this season. For better or worse, McCarthy’s development and his would-be ability to transform into a Top 10 NFL quarterback will define Adofo-Mensah’s legacy.
That is — nobody will care about the 2022 draft class if McCarthy matures into one of the league’s top passers. In fact, everything for Adofo-Mensah’s reputation is on the line with McCarthy. Everything.
NFC North Foes Under Pressure
ESPN didn’t limit the “under pressure” criteria to Minnesota.
Rob Demovsky noted on the Green Bay Packers: “Who’s under the most pressure: Cornerback Keisean Nixon. He said after last season that he wanted to be a No. 1 CB. Now that Jaire Alexander is gone, Nixon might get that chance.”
“Sure, the Packers signed Nate Hobbs in free agency, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley plays a high amount of zone coverage, but Nixon will be counted on to shut down opposing receivers. The question is, can he deliver?”
For the Detroit Lions, ESPN’s Eric Woodyard opined, “Who’s under the most pressure: Quarterback Jared Goff. It appears every season is ‘make or break’ for Goff if he doesn’t lead this team to the Super Bowl. He delivered an MVP-caliber 2024 season, but the Lions fell short in the NFC divisional round against Washington when Goff struggled and finished with four turnovers.”
“Goff and the Lions will try to put last year’s playoff dud behind them. As the face of the team, the veteran QB again has high expectations to keep the momentum growing.”
ESPN also ranked the Chicago Bears at No. 21 in the power rankings and noted quarterback Caleb Williams as the player under the most pressure.
The Vikings will play those Bears, led by Williams, to start the regular season in 18 days.
