The Minnesota Vikings are in the thick of a transformative offseason, and Tyler Forness kicked off this episode of The Real Forno Show with a sense of urgency: “We are two weeks into free agency and the NFL draft is coming up severely into focus. What are the Minnesota Vikings going to do?” With the team’s direction under scrutiny, Forness and producer Dave Stefano wasted no time unpacking the latest developments, starting with a surprising twist: the Vikings’ discussions with former Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Forness highlighted the intrigue: “The Vikings have had discussions with former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill about a potential deal. Talks are ongoing and nothing is imminent right now.” This news, sourced from NFL on Fox’s Jordan Schultz, sparked immediate debate. Tannehill, a former eighth overall pick known for his athleticism—he played wide receiver his first two years at Texas A&M—could serve as a mentor to rookie J.J. McCarthy. But his 2022 stance that “it’s not his job to mentor a quarterback” raised eyebrows. “Would his mentality shift?” Forness mused, noting the shift from fighting for a starting role in Tennessee to a defined backup gig in Minnesota. “It’s a different mindset. It’s a different set of expectations.”

The Tannehill talks also fueled speculation about McCarthy’s role. Some suggest it signals hesitation about starting the rookie, but Forness dismissed that outright: “I think that’s bogus. They’re very committed to J.J. McCarthy. The entire offseason was to get J.J. McCarthy ready to go.” With McCarthy’s preseason promise in mind—“Can J.J. McCarthy duplicate his preseason performance as QB one against Big Boy defenses?”—the Vikings seem poised to lean on their young signal-caller, with Tannehill as a potential safety net.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Learning Curve

At the heart of the episode was an exploration of General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s evolving approach. Forness, a draft obsessive who’s tracked 367 mock drafts since January 1, 2025, offered a masterclass in Adofo-Mensah’s growth. “He started out really focusing on metrics like the 10-yard split… it didn’t work out very well,” he said, reflecting on the 2022 draft’s missteps. But since then, Adofo-Mensah has hit his stride, landing wide receiver Jordan Addison in 2023 and trading up for McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner in 2024.

“He’s learning how to evolve within this process, and it’s hard. This job is really difficult,” Forness emphasized. Unlike predecessor Rick Spielman, a scout with rigid thresholds, Adofo-Mensah operates as a manager—delegating and synthesizing input. “A good manager listens and makes decisions based on the pertinent information,” Forness explained, defending Adofo-Mensah’s collaborative style. “People are like, ‘Oh, Kwesi doesn’t deserve credit for the Jordan Addison pick. That was all Kevin O’Connell.’ Kwesi made the pick. He’s not gonna intentionally draft somebody that Kevin O’Connell doesn’t want on the roster. That’s stupid.”

Stefano agreed, noting Adofo-Mensah’s progression: “The first draft, he admitted he tried to win everything from the get-go… he blew it. But in the second draft, he stayed pat—Jordan Addison, a hit… And last draft, they came in with a specific plan to get the quarterback of the future.” With McCarthy and Turner as cornerstones, Adofo-Mensah’s adaptability has erased doubts. “If J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner both work out… you really can’t say much about Kwesi anymore,” Forness concluded.

Draft Trends: The Safety Surge

Forness’s mock draft database—367 tracked this year, over 800 last year—revealed a clear trend: the Vikings are pegged for the secondary, with safeties Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori leading the charge. “Emmanwori is 37 [selections]. Malachi Starks is 36. That’s a significant difference,” he told Stefano, who quipped, “That’s why they made the thumbnail.” Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron topped the list with 43 selections, but the safety duo dominated chatter.

Why safeties? Forness pointed to defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s scheme. “Versatility is so key in Brian Flores’s defense… he wants to be able to do a lot of different things and give you unique looks,” he said. Starks, from Georgia, shines on the back end, while South Carolina’s Emmanwori excels as a box-roaming “rover.” “Adding one of those guys would be really interesting,” Forness noted, highlighting their fit in Flores’s three-safety packages and NASCAR blitz looks.

The data reinforced this narrative: 75 of 367 selections targeted safeties (over 20%), with Starks and Emmanwori accounting for all but two. Cornerbacks led with 123 picks (over 30%), including Barron and East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. “Whole world thinks this team is going defense,” Forness said, citing an aging safety room—Harrison Smith’s year-to-year status and Josh Metellus’s looming free agency. “It’s not unrealistic to think one or both of those guys will be there for the Vikings… safeties almost always fall farther than they should,” he added, referencing past drops like Kyle Hamilton (top-five to 14) and Derwin James (top-10 to 17).

Live Mock Draft: Building Around Starks

The episode’s highlight was a live seven-round mock draft, with Forness anchoring it on Malaki Starks. “This is what a draft could look like if you take Malachi Starks,” he announced, diving in without trades due to time constraints. Here’s the haul:

• Round 1, Pick 23: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia – Forness lauded Starks’s nickel versatility, a Flores dream. “They like the Malaki Starks,” Stefano confirmed, noting the simulator’s A-grade.
• Round 2, Pick 55: Anthony Belton, OL, NC State – Shifting to offense, Forness picked Belton, a tackle with guard potential. “He showed a lot more athleticism than I expected at the Senior Bowl… probably best as a guard long-term,” he said, valuing his flexibility.
• Round 4, Pick 139: Quincy Riley, CB, Middle Tennessee – Forness’s sleeper pick, Riley, drew rave reviews: “That dude is just so, so good at football… I believe Quincy Riley is like a top-50 player in this class.” A high-upside corner for a shaky room.
• Round 5, Pick 167: Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech – Targeting running back depth, Forness chose Brooks. “This dude is such a good pass catcher… at worst, you have a core special teamer,” he said, praising his third-down prowess.

The simulator gave an A grade, prompting Forness to crow, “Save that image, David. I’m gonna brag about it tonight on Twitter.” The draft balanced immediate needs (safety, corner) with depth (line, running back), showcasing Adofo-Mensah’s flexibility.

Spotlight Players and Sleeper Picks

Beyond Starks and Emmanwori, other names surfaced. Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas caught Stefano’s eye—“Have you watched Azareye’h Thomas?”—though Forness hadn’t scouted him yet. Jahdae Barron’s versatility (corner or safety) kept him relevant, while Anthony Belton and Quincy Riley emerged as mock standouts. Tahj Brooks rounded out the class as a late-round gem.

Forness also name-dropped Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden as a luxury pick option—“Good football player, would not be opposed to taking him in round one”—and flagged Oregon’s Derek Harmon (15 selections post-combine) as a defensive tackle to watch. Grey Zabel and Will Johnson Jr. didn’t feature, but the secondary focus kept the spotlight on defensive backs.

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The Vikings’ Bright Future

Forness wrapped up with optimism: “This team can go a million different directions… there isn’t a single dire need on this roster.” With McCarthy in place, Adofo-Mensah’s strategic patience—evident in the Tannehill talks and draft trends—positions Minnesota to maximize their window. “They’ve set themselves up really well to not have to panic about taking any one spot,” he said.

As The Real Forno Show with Starks and Emmanwori as the hot topics, and McCarthy’s development on deck, this episode cemented the Vikings’ offseason as one to watch. “SKOLVikings,” Forness and Stefano chorused, leaving fans buzzing for what’s next.

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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.