The Minnesota Vikings’ journey through the NFL Draft under General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been a rollercoaster of highs, lows, and calculated risks. Since taking the helm in 2022, Adofo-Mensah has faced scrutiny for early missteps but has shown signs of growth, refining his approach to the draft’s critical first round. On a recent episode of The Real Forno Show, host Tyler Forness and producer Dave Stefano dug into the data, spotlighting the GM’s four first-round picks—Lewis Cine (2022), Jordan Addison (2023), J.J. McCarthy (2024), and Dallas Turner (2024)—to uncover patterns that could forecast the Vikings’ strategy in April 2025. With a small but telling sample size, the duo revealed a GM who thrives on trades, prioritizes youth and elite movement skills, and sticks to Power Four talent, offering fans a glimpse into what’s next for Minnesota.

A Shaky Start and a Learning Curve

Adofo-Mensah’s draft tenure kicked off with a thud in 2022. Trading down from pick 12 to 32, the Vikings selected safety Lewis Cine from Georgia, a move that hasn’t aged well. “We all know that there have been issues with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in the NFL Draft,” Forness acknowledged early in the episode, setting the stage for a candid discussion. Cine, now the oldest of Adofo-Mensah’s first-round picks at approximately 22.6 years old on draft day, remains a fringe contributor, plagued by injuries and limited impact. Of the Vikings’ four selections within the first 66 picks that year, only linebacker Brian Asamoah—a special teams player—remains on the roster.

Yet, Forness emphasized that this rocky debut doesn’t define Adofo-Mensah’s trajectory. “It’s only four picks in the first round, but we can start to see signal,” he said. “It’s the beginning of a trend.” That signal sharpened in 2023 and 2024, as Adofo-Mensah adapted, landing wide receiver Jordan Addison (23rd overall), quarterback J.J. McCarthy (10th overall), and edge rusher Dallas Turner (17th overall)—all younger prospects (around 21.25 years old) from powerhouse programs with traits tailored to Minnesota’s needs. The shift suggests a GM learning from his mistakes and honing a process rooted in analytics and long-term value.

The Trade Maestro: A Market-Driven Approach

One hallmark of Adofo-Mensah’s tenure is his willingness to wheel and deal. “The first thing that I noticed is the Minnesota Vikings have made four picks involving four trades involving first-round picks,” Forness noted. In 2022, he traded down from 12 to 32 for Cine. In 2023, he stood pat at 23 for Addison despite trade offers—a rare moment of restraint. Then, in 2024, he traded up twice: from 11 to 10 for McCarthy and from 23 to 17 for Turner. “It seems very likely that Kwesi is gonna trade again,” Forness predicted. “He is a market trader.”

This trade-heavy philosophy reflects Adofo-Mensah’s Wall Street background, where finding value in fluctuating markets is king. However, his success varies by metric. “They technically lost value on the Jets trade [for McCarthy] across all trade charts, but it’s for a quarterback—that’s viewed on a different level,” Forness explained. Conversely, he “won” analytically on the 2022 Lions trade and on standard charts with Houston and Jacksonville in 2024. Stefano chimed in, highlighting a potential wrinkle: “There’s a possibility in 2025 that somebody they fall in love with drops to number 24, and they do not trade.” If that happens, Forness mused, it’d be a “run-to-the-podium” moment—think a “Vontae Mack no matter what” scenario from Draft Day.

With only four picks in the 2025 draft as of now, the Vikings might lean on future assets—like a 2026 second-rounder—to maneuver. “Theoretically, it’s cheaper to trade future assets than it is to trade current assets,” Forness said, suggesting a possible move up from 24 to 17 if a blue-chip prospect lingers. Whatever the move, Adofo-Mensah’s trade itch is a trend worth watching.

Power Four Pedigree: Betting on Proven Talent

Another clear pattern in Adofo-Mensah’s draft strategy is his preference for Power Four prospects—players from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12, and formerly Pac-12. “Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has only selected two players not from a Power Four school,” Forness pointed out, citing seventh-rounders DeWayne McBride (UAB, 2023) and Levi Drake Rodriguez (Texas A&M-Commerce, 2024). His 20 other picks, including all four first-rounders, hail from elite conferences: Cine and Turner from the SEC (Georgia and Alabama), McCarthy from the Big Ten (Michigan), and Addison from the Pac-12 (USC, now Big Ten).

“The theory is take players that play a high level, it’ll be easier for them to transition,” Forness explained. “They’ll have had better coaching.” This approach, likely influenced by his mentor Andrew Berry of the Cleveland Browns, minimizes variables in an inherently uncertain process. It’s no coincidence that Georgia, Alabama, and Michigan—recent national champions—and a resurgent USC dominate his first-round selections. For Adofo-Mensah, pedigree matters, especially early in the draft when the stakes are highest.

Youth Movement: Age as a Strategic Edge

Age is another cornerstone of Adofo-Mensah’s first-round philosophy. “The ages—that he goes for in the first round under 22,” Stefano remarked, pinpointing a trend Forness expanded on. Excluding Cine at 22.6, Addison, McCarthy, and Turner were all around 21.25 years old when drafted. “The younger you draft a player, the more value you can get out of the player’s prime with a second, potentially third, contract,” Forness said, citing Justin Jefferson—drafted at 20 by predecessor Rick Spielman—as the gold standard. Jefferson’s second deal expires at 30, maximizing his prime years in purple.

Later rounds show more flexibility—only four of Adofo-Mensah’s Day 3 picks were under 23—but in the first round, youth is non-negotiable. “It’s a huge benefit to you if the prospect you love is young,” Forness emphasized. “That gives you an advantage.” This focus aligns with his analytics-driven mindset, prioritizing long-term roster control over immediate readiness—a strategy that could pay dividends if McCarthy and Turner blossom into stars.

Movers and Shakers: The Movement Skills Obsession

Perhaps the most defining trait of Adofo-Mensah’s first-rounders is their movement skills. “They love players who can move very, very well,” Forness said, breaking it down by player. Cine boasted a 99.8th-percentile 10-yard split and 98.8th-percentile 40-yard dash; Turner followed with a 90.3rd-percentile split and 99.7th-percentile 40. McCarthy skipped most testing but flashed a 96th-percentile three-cone drill, hinting at agility suited for a quarterback. Addison, though less explosive (77.8th-percentile 40, 73.3rd-percentile split), shone via GPS data and on-field twitchiness, mirroring Jefferson’s route-running savvy.

“It wasn’t the athletic testing that did it [for Addison], it was more of the GPS tracking,” Forness noted, lamenting the lack of public access to such data. Head coach Kevin O’Connell underscored Addison’s fit in 2023: “I think Addison gives us a chance to do a lot of different things… working away from some of the overloaded looks that Justin tends to see.” For Adofo-Mensah, movement isn’t just about raw speed—it’s about functional athleticism tailored to each position, a nuance that sets his picks apart.

Projecting 2025: Who Fits the Bill?

With these trends in mind, Forness identified nine prospects who could catch Adofo-Mensah’s eye at pick 24 in 2025: Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell (21.2), Georgia EDGE/ILB Jalon Walker (21.2), Georgia S Malaki Starks (21.4), Michigan DT Kenneth Grant (21.5), Missouri WR Luther Burden III (21.4), Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen (21.5), Oregon DT Derrick Harmon (21.8), South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori (21.2), and Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton (20.6). “These are the guys that I believe are going to be of interest to the Vikings at this spot,” he said, noting their youth, Power Four roots, and movement skills.

Notably absent? Cornerbacks and offensive linemen. Top corners like Jahdae Barron (23) and Shemar Stewart (projected top 10) don’t fit the age or availability mold, while linemen like Alabama’s Tyler Booker lack the mobility Adofo-Mensah craves. “If you put Booker in a phone booth, he’s gonna murder you,” Forness quipped. “But if you ask him to get out of the phone booth, you have problems.”

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Small Sample, Big Implications

Forness was quick to caution against overconfidence. “This is a very, very, very small sample size. I’m not drawing any concrete conclusions,” he reiterated. Yet, the signals are tantalizing. Adofo-Mensah’s deliberate, articulate approach—“Everything he says and does means something,” Forness observed—suggests a GM with a vision, even if it’s still taking shape. From the bust of Cine to the triumphs of Addison and McCarthy, his evolution is palpable.

As the Vikings approach the 2025 draft, fans can expect a trade (or two), a Power Four prospect under 22, and a player who moves like the wind—on film or via GPS. Whether that nets a franchise cornerstone or another learning experience, The Real Forno Show will be there to break it down. For now, Adofo-Mensah’s draft story is one of adaptation, ambition, and a relentless pursuit of value—qualities that could define Minnesota’s future, one pick at a time.

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Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and its NFL feed @FFSN_NFL.